Edit History
EUPHORBIA enormis N. E. Br. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Capensis
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 2, page 216, (1925) Author: (By N. E. BROWN, J. HUTCHINSON and D. PRAIN.)
Names
EUPHORBIA enormis N. E. Br. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Information
dwarf, succulent, spiny and leafless; rootstock obconic or somewhat carrot-shaped, 3–4 in. thick, fleshy, subterranean, producing numerous branches at its apex; branches erect, 1 1/4–5 1/2 in. long and up to 1 in. in diam. at the broadest parts, 3–4-angled, the shorter more or less clavate, the others with 1–4 constrictions, so that they falsely appear to be somewhat jointed, glabrous; angles compressed, irregularly toothed, with the larger teeth collected upon the more dilated parts of the branches, 2–5 lin. apart and 1–3 lin. prominent, deltoid; spine-shields extending above the spines to the flowering-eyes and below them into acute points, but not forming a continuous horny margin to the angles, bearing 2 pairs of spines, a pair close to the flowering-eye 1/4–1 lin. long or sometimes quite rudimentary, and a pair at the apex of the tooth 2–4 lin. long, diverging, grey; leaves quite rudimentary, 1/8– 1/3 lin. long, 1/2– 2/3 lin. broad, transverse, truncate, often represented by a raised line; flowers and fruit not seen. null
Distribution
KALAHARI REGION Transvaal; Pietersburg, Marloth, 5144!
Notes
Although the specimen seen is without flowers, it is so distinct from all the other South African species that there is no difficulty in distinguishing it. In habit and general appearance it somewhat resembles E. clavigera, but the spines are more rigid in texture, grey instead of pale brown, and the spine-shield extends in a rather broad band to the flowering-eye and there bears a pair of small spines, which is not the case in E. clavigera. The same characters, as well as its much stouter spines and branches, likewise separate it from E. Knuthii.
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Capensis
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 2, page 216, (1925) Author: (By N. E. BROWN, J. HUTCHINSON and D. PRAIN.)
Names
EUPHORBIA enormis N. E. Br. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Information
dwarf, succulent, spiny and leafless; rootstock obconic or somewhat carrot-shaped, 3–4 in. thick, fleshy, subterranean, producing numerous branches at its apex; branches erect, 1 1/4–5 1/2 in. long and up to 1 in. in diam. at the broadest parts, 3–4-angled, the shorter more or less clavate, the others with 1–4 constrictions, so that they falsely appear to be somewhat jointed, glabrous; angles compressed, irregularly toothed, with the larger teeth collected upon the more dilated parts of the branches, 2–5 lin. apart and 1–3 lin. prominent, deltoid; spine-shields extending above the spines to the flowering-eyes and below them into acute points, but not forming a continuous horny margin to the angles, bearing 2 pairs of spines, a pair close to the flowering-eye 1/4–1 lin. long or sometimes quite rudimentary, and a pair at the apex of the tooth 2–4 lin. long, diverging, grey; leaves quite rudimentary, 1/8– 1/3 lin. long, 1/2– 2/3 lin. broad, transverse, truncate, often represented by a raised line; flowers and fruit not seen. null
Distribution
KALAHARI REGION Transvaal; Pietersburg, Marloth, 5144!
Notes
Although the specimen seen is without flowers, it is so distinct from all the other South African species that there is no difficulty in distinguishing it. In habit and general appearance it somewhat resembles E. clavigera, but the spines are more rigid in texture, grey instead of pale brown, and the spine-shield extends in a rather broad band to the flowering-eye and there bears a pair of small spines, which is not the case in E. clavigera. The same characters, as well as its much stouter spines and branches, likewise separate it from E. Knuthii.
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Capensis
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 2, page 216, (1925) Author: (By N. E. BROWN, J. HUTCHINSON and D. PRAIN.)
Names
EUPHORBIA enormis N. E. Br. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Information
dwarf, succulent, spiny and leafless; rootstock obconic or somewhat carrot-shaped, 3–4 in. thick, fleshy, subterranean, producing numerous branches at its apex; branches erect, 1 1/4–5 1/2 in. long and up to 1 in. in diam. at the broadest parts, 3–4-angled, the shorter more or less clavate, the others with 1–4 constrictions, so that they falsely appear to be somewhat jointed, glabrous; angles compressed, irregularly toothed, with the larger teeth collected upon the more dilated parts of the branches, 2–5 lin. apart and 1–3 lin. prominent, deltoid; spine-shields extending above the spines to the flowering-eyes and below them into acute points, but not forming a continuous horny margin to the angles, bearing 2 pairs of spines, a pair close to the flowering-eye 1/4–1 lin. long or sometimes quite rudimentary, and a pair at the apex of the tooth 2–4 lin. long, diverging, grey; leaves quite rudimentary, 1/8– 1/3 lin. long, 1/2– 2/3 lin. broad, transverse, truncate, often represented by a raised line; flowers and fruit not seen. null
Distribution
KALAHARI REGION Transvaal; Pietersburg, Marloth, 5144!
Notes
Although the specimen seen is without flowers, it is so distinct from all the other South African species that there is no difficulty in distinguishing it. In habit and general appearance it somewhat resembles E. clavigera, but the spines are more rigid in texture, grey instead of pale brown, and the spine-shield extends in a rather broad band to the flowering-eye and there bears a pair of small spines, which is not the case in E. clavigera. The same characters, as well as its much stouter spines and branches, likewise separate it from E. Knuthii.
![EUPHORBIA enormis N. E. Br. [family EUPHORBIACEAE]](/fsi/img/misc/plants/static_thumbs/flora_capensis_icon96.jpg)
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