Compilation
Euphorbia implexa

A bush 2–3 ft. high, formed of a mass of long slender naked succulent interwoven stems and branches, leafy only on the young growth for a short period. Branches ascending or making a right-angle with the stems or main branches or becoming pendulous, 2–3 1/2 lin. thick in the specimens seen, terete, with small crescent-shaped leaf-scars, glabrous. Leaves alternate, whorled at the base of the umbel, sessile, reflexed, soon deciduous, those on the stem 1/2–1 1/4 in. long, 1–2 1/2 lin. broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute, narrowed towards the base, the upper sometimes shorter and broader and becoming more elliptic or ovate, those of the whorl usually 3–5 lin. long and 1 1/2–3 1/2 lin. broad, ovate to orbicular, very obtusely rounded to acute and apiculate, but sometimes like those of the stem, all glabrous on both sides. Stipules none. Umbel terminal, simple, with a central shortly pedunculate involucre which is male and deciduous and 4–5 rays 1/2–1 1/4 in. long, each with 1 hermaphrodite involucre and a pair of reflexed elliptic obtuse bracts about 3 lin. long and 2 lin. broad, glabrous. Involucres on peduncles 1 1/2–2 lin. long, broadly and shallowly cup-shaped, about 1/3 in. in diam., glabrous, but with a dome-like mass of very white woolly bracteoles filling the interior, with 5–6 large glands and 5–6 subquadrate lobes, notched or slightly toothed at the top, with a fringe of very fine weak hairs, which appear to arise from the inner surface and are only seen (on dried specimens) when the lobe is placed in water; glands turned outwards, 1 1/2–2 lin. in their greater diam., transversely elliptic to suborbicular, flattish, entire or slightly crenate on the outer margin. Ovary exserted above the dome of woolly bracts, erect, glabrous; styles 1 1/4 lin. long, united at the base, deeply bifid at the apex with revolute tips.