Euphorbia maleolens splitting

Two young Euphorbia maleolens plants in a close relationship or more likely two branches joined below ground as a single plant posed for this picture. The division into two or more upper body parts does happen 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).