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Euphorbia echinus forma cristata
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Warning: As with all other
Euphorbias when a plant get damaged it exudes a thick white milky sap
known as latex. This latex is poisonous and particularly
dangerous for the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. So
pay extreme attention not to get any in your eyes or mouth.
Cultivated plants must be handled carefully.
Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk (1962)
described this plant as being virulently poisonous.
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Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Lobivia (Echinopsis) pentlandii .
of plants
belonging to the Lobivia...
complex
(This
Taxon
has lots of synonyms (
like many other cacti) whit
several controversial varieties and subspecies and comprises a
multitude of different forms, but where each form is linked to others by
populations of plants with intermediate characteristics):
Advertising
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Family:
Euphorbiaceae
Scientific name:
Euphorbia ledienii
A.Berger
In: Sukk. Euphorb.,
80, 1907.
forma cristata
Origin:
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
The standard E. echinus is endemic to
Eastern Cape, Uitenhage and
neighbouring districts, South Africa
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: "Crested Euphorbia".
Synonyms:
- Euphorbia ledienii
N.E. Brown
In: Bot. Mag., t. 8275. 1909
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Description: E.
ledienii is a succulent shrub freely branching from the base to
form a very cactus-like plant up to 2 m high.
Stems: Branches erect, glabrous, green or grey green, up to 5,5
cm in diameter, moderately constricted at intervals into oblong
irregular joints 7-18 cm long,
Ribs: (3-)4 to 7 (mostly 4 or 5 ), sharply angled with situated
teeth approx 15-18 mm apart.
Stipular spines: 6- 20 mm long in pairs; elongated, rudimentary,
separate or joined.
Leaves: Small rudimentary , soon leafless.
Inflorescences: Cymes, simple, formed by three cyathia in an horizontal
line, peduncles up to 3 mm.
Cyathia: Up to 5 mm wide Yellow, nectar glands oblong, touching.
Fruit: slightly lobed, up to 7 mm in diameter, peduncle up to 6 m
long.
E. ledienii cristata
is a very beautiful strong green crested plant with intricately undulating
fan-shaped branches.
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Culture: Need bright light to partial shade
for best appearance. It responds well to warmth, with its active growth
period in the late spring and summer months. Water thoroughly when soil
is dry to the touch during active growing season (more than once a week
during hot weather) In the winter months, waterigs should be suspended
or restricted to once over the winter. The most common failure in
growing this plant is over watering, especially during the winter
months. Likes porous
sub-acidic substrata (pH 6) with adequate
drainage. Very tender, protect from frost.
Reproduction: It is propagated by cuttings. It
is recommend taking Euphorbia cuttings in Spring/Summer when the plant
is growing so that they have a better chance of success. They key is
heat & good air circulation. These cuttings should be dipped in Hormone
powder (but it is not needed) and left for a period of 3-4 weeks to
callous. Then pot the cutting and don't water ( or kept slightly moist)
until rooted. These will root just fine, if you can put the pot outside
in the summer, or put pot on a heating pad.
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrous' varieties of plants, where the
variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth
can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light
intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested
plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that
looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason.
If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal
growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done
regularly.
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