Kenya Archives - enjoysucculents

Euphorbia classenii

This species was discovered in 1960 on the lower slopes (700–1200 m.) of Mt. Kasigau in southern Kenya, where it grows on exposed rock faces. It has not been recorded from other places since then.
Although at first sight it reminds one of a multi-angled E. heterochroma, it has some distinguishing features: usually not higher than 1 m, branches always rigid and uniform sap-green.
The plants do very well in cultivation and can easily be propagated from cuttings.

It is a shrub with more or less erect branches which are sparsely rebranched, prominently 6–9-angled, 1–3 cm. thick and bright green; the angles are shallowly toothed, with teeth 6–12 mm. apart.
The grey spines are to 8 mm. long; without or with rudimentary prickles
Cyathia are ± 3 × 4 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; the golden yellow glands are transversely oblong, ± 1 × 2 mm. and the lobes are subcircular, ± 1.3 × 1.3 mm.
The capsules are obtusely 3-lobed and exserted on a reflexed pedicel to 4 mm. long.

Kenya revisited (part 2 of 2)

The first three pictures are from in and around South Horr:
#1 one of the peculiar river beds in the village, just before sunrise
# 2 Adenium obesum bathing in early morning sunlight
# 3 at the end of a long day

The next one gives an impression of Mt. Kulal

The southeastern corner of Lake Turkana:

The last thre pictures are from the south of the country:
– Euphorbia classenii on the slopes of Mt. Kasigau
– Aloe ballyi in the Taita Hills
– Baobab (Adansonia digitata) near Mtito Andei

More pictures will find their way into upcoming posts!

Trip to Kenya

Since the early seventies I paid several visits to Kenya. Most of the northern part was unfortunately always out of bounds or at least very unsafe to visit. Over the years, I came to the conclusion that this beautiful and interesting part of the country was something I would never see. More recently things have improved in the sense that the brigands who used to roam the countryside have been brought under control.
Two of the friends I made a trip to Somaliland in the beginning of this year with, had tentative plans to visit northern Kenya later in the year, and when they invited me to join them I was obviously very temped. At the same time I thought that at my age a trip like that would be too strenuous and difficult. When the invitation was repeated a few weeks ago, my dear wife convinced me that this was not only my first but probably also my last chance to see this wild and wonderful part of the world.
So, now I am about to leave for Cape Town, to catch a plane to Nairobi.
After my return I hope to share some stories and pictures with you.