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Euphorbia schoenlandii
Port Elizabeth - South Africa.
This is is a nice African species with pale green bodies and stout
persistent spiny protuberances.
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Family: Euphorbiaceae
Scientific name:
Euphorbia schoenlandii
Pax
Published in: Jahresb. Schles. Ges. 1904, lxxxii. Abt.
2, 24
Origin: West cape, South Africa
(fairly close to the South African west coast mainly on the Sand Veld
the area right along the coast.)
Habitat: It is grows in open fields often
on beach sand far enough from the present shoreline to support plant
growth. Along with several species of aloe, spiky small-growing
shrublike species and an array of clustering grape-like conophytums,
Moraea species and other bulbs. The climate is characterized by winter
rain and fog and summer drought.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2 endangered species.
Synonyms:
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Description: Euphorbia
schoenlandii is a small pickle shaped succulent srublet with prominent
spiny tubercles, sometimes resembling a green pineapple, usually single
stemmed but may branch with age.
Stem: Up to 20 cm thick and 100(-130) cm tall, upright growing
and club-shaped with large conical tubercles up to 12 mm long.
Spines: 2,5-5 cm long, the “spines” are only the stout, woody,
withered remains of fertile peduncles which endure.
Flowers: Cyathia (8 mm Ř) solitary or in simple cymes, arising
above the spines, peduncles up to 2,5 cm long with a few 2-3 cm long
scattered and deciduous bracts. Nectar glans oblong, margin with 3 to 8
entire or bifid linear, separated, processes up to 1,5 mm long.
Fruit: Globose to sub-globose up to 6 mm wide, sub-sessile.
Seed: Oblong up to 4 mm wide.
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Cultivation: Like a sunny
position. It does best in a mineral soil, good drainage is essential.
Water sparingly during the summer months and keep dry in winter. It is a
slow growing long lived plant and once established, it will be content
in its position and with its soil for years. It can tolerate moderate
shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly
hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely
scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.
Propagation: It is propagated from seed sown during spring or
summer. Germination occurs within 3 weeks, but it can be reproduced by
cuttings as well (if available). Flowering can be achieved within 5-8
years.
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