Euphorbia pentagona

Euphorbia pentagona is a succulent perennial shrub with erect, finger-like branches. It grows in the Eastern Cape. It has a comparatively dry habitat that gets some rain in winter as well. Much rain when it is dormant in winter may make it rot when conditions get very cold. The stems are light green when young. They are five or six-edged or ribbed with spines along the edges. These spines are really the bare remaining peduncles where cyathia or fruit capsules have dropped off in the past. They grow darker with age until they are gray. The edges are also dotted with white tubercles. The smooth sides between the edges are slightly concave and undulating.

The cyathia of E. pentagona are purple with attractive spreading bracts and dark nectar glands. They grow on long peduncles at the tips of stems. The fruit is a round, dehiscent capsule.

The plants are used by traditional populations to make hedges. The dry branches are used as fuel for fires. The plant is a gardening subject. It resembles E. enopla, which is often smaller and more branched. The latex exuded by any damaged part of this plant is poisonous.

The plant used to be called E. heptagona in the past (www.cactus-art.biz).