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Euphorbia decidua is a wonderful miniature plant with a thick,
subterranean stem.
It is a hard species to find, but well worth
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Description:
It is a dwarf and very slow growing spiny perennial succulent with a
large 'turnip-like' woody tuberous root.
Stem: Subterranean (in habitat) or usually above ground in
cultivation, much reduced, merging imperceptibly with the root and
forming a spherical to conical woody caudex 5-10 cm in diameter and 5-20
cm tall. The small central apex on the enlarged woodstock produce in
spring numerous thin deciduous branchlets to form a small clump up to 30
cm in diameter. The branchlets are green erect, 7–20 cm long, 3-5
angled, about 5-6 mm in diameter;
Spines: 3–4 mm long, widely divergent, with expanded bases.
Leaves: In juvenile stage the thick, subterranean stem bears
broad apical, ovate, sessile, deciduous leaves 12- 22 mm long. But at
maturity the plant produces only a small showing of deciduous green
spiny stems.
Flowers: Pale green with a red centre.
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Cultivation: Not difficult to grow if you stop watering which the
branches fall off in the winter.
Propagation: Seeds/Cuttings
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Family: Euphorbiaceae |
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Scientific name:
Euphorbia decidua
P.R.O.Bally & L.C.Leach
In: Kirkia 10:293. 1975
Origin: Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and
Zaire.
Habitat: Grows in deep sand and cracks among granite rocks.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
This is a very rare species not often available that
bears broad apical leaves 12- 22 mm long in juvenile stage. At maturity
the plant produces only a small showing of deciduous green spiny stems.
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The caudex.
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Cultivation and
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