5/05/2008

Succulent of the Week - Euphorbia meloformis

As a non-botanist, I find Euphorbia the most difficult genus to get a handle on. Euphorbia come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The common characteristic is a milky, toxic sap. Of course I don't want to cut the plants to try to identify them. The only one I was familiar with before this obsession with succulents struck me was the Poinsettia. Which is not exactly succulent.

This cactus-like stem succulent Euphorbia meloformis is one of my new favorites.
It's native to the Eastern Cape. Two weeks after I brought it home, I discovered tiny scale insects living among the stems, apparently sucking the supposedly toxic sap. I borrowed a very nice tweezer from the mineral picking students and removed most of them. I think the plant looks happier now, if it is possible for Euphorbia meloformis to look happy. Its unapologetic fatness is somehow happy.
I like the radial symmetry which in this individual has grown into a helix-like shape. These pictures were taken after the peak of its bloom but I have high hopes for next year.

1 comment:

mr_subjunctive said...

I feel compelled to say, Be vigilant! Scale are evil!

Which it's very likely you knew that already. But just to be sure. Scale are like mealybugs without the charm.