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Euphorbia turbiniformis forma cristata

Euphorbia turbiniformis cristata
This is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful and rare succulent crests.

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Scientific name:  Euphorbia turbiniformis Chiovenda 1929
forma cristata

Origin:  This is a narrow endemic Euphorbia only in a small part of northeastern Somalia.  Once believed extinct, this species was originally descibed by Emilio Chiovenda (1874-1941) in 'Flora Somala vol 3' en 1936 and newly rediscovered 32 years later by John J. Lavranos near Eil (Eyl) in Somalia.

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Names include:

Description: Euphorbia turbiniformis is a dwarf, globose succulent that live almost underground.
Stem: Spherical with a short obconic caudex about 4 cm tall x 6-8 cm in diameter, it grows almost buried in the soil and has lost all its spines. The apex is depressed an the epidermis is smooth, shining. Usually it has a single growing point, but in cultivation the plant can branch dichotomously forming two to several apexes.
Flowers: The very small yellow cyathias ( both male and female) are born on a short cymose inflorescence up to 5 mm long.
Crested plants are very rare rare but time by time seen in cultivation and sought after by collectors.

Cultivation: This species is always found grafted because it is very difficult (if not impossible) to grow it on its own roots.
 

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.