Euphorbia duseimata

Euphorbia duseimata, commonly known as the ragged spurge, is a dwarf succulent shrublet growing several stems from the ground or branching above it. Old plants may form clumps of branched stems. The species is related to E. fusca and similar to E. bergii, the latter without the thick central body.

The deep-rooted, tuberous plant reaches heights to 30 cm in favourable conditions, usually only 6 cm in habitat, while the taproot may reach 2 m in length below the elongating caudex. The plant exudes a milky latex that may cause skin irritation.

The species distribution is in the northern parts of South Africa, known in the Northern Cape, North West, Free State and Limpopo. It is also found in several neighbouring countries. The photo was taken in Limpopo.

The habitat is deep, sandy soils in wooded grassland or open bushland, found at elevations from 900 m to 1400 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (JSTOR; http://llifle.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).