Euphorbia tuberosa (incl. E. crispa)

Common names: Melkbol, Wilderamenas

This member of a small group of geophytic Euphorbias has underground tubers up to 2.5 cm thick which can form large groups. The plants are stemless and either male or female.

Its leaves have a stalk up to 5 cm long and may be oblong to almost lanceolate, linear or elliptic,1 to 5 cm long and 0.5 to 2.5 cm wide, often minutely hairy and grey-green, usually with wavy margins. They are only present in the growing period.
The flowering season is mainly June-September.

The species occurs on sandy and gravelly flats and slopes from near Springbok to the Cape Peninsula and the western part of the Little Karoo.

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Euphorbia tuberosa (incl. E. crispa)”

  1. Good to see them in their natural home. Have had two E.tuberosas, killed both.
    In my opinion, they couldn’t handle even my very sparing watering.
    How much of rain they face in the habitat?
    Stunning photos, thanks.

    1. I have not been able to find any rainfall data, but I would think somewhere between 200 and 400 mm per year. Judging from your words it seems possible that you kept them too dry in the growing period, rather than too wet.

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