Euphorbia maleolens splitting crowns

Two young Euphorbia maleolens plants in close proximity, read relationship, or more likely two branches of one plant joined below ground while developing twin crowns, posed for this picture. The division into two or more upper body parts does happen in this species but is not common.

The beginnings of the ring of branches around each of the two expanding central crowns are in evidence. The colouring is yellow-green in the central parts, darker green to purplish brown on the periphery. Tubercle shapes differ slightly, suggesting pressure in their shaping (Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; iNaturalist; JSTOR; http://www.llifle.com).