Euphorbia pillansii

Euphorbia pillansii, commonly in Afrikaans the kleinnoorsdoring (small euphorbia thorn), is a perennial stem-succulent forming clumps and reaching heights from 20 cm to 40 cm.

Green false flowers in paler and darker shades or yellowish are produced at stem-tips in summer to autumn in these dioecious plants (sexes in separate plants). The flowers are about 5 mm in diameter, sometimes solitary or branched in small groups.

The species distribution is in the Western Cape, from Ceres and the Tanqua Karoo to the west of the Little Karoo and the northern slopes of the Langeberge. The photo was taken at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve west of Ladismith.

The habitat is succulent Karoo where the plants grow among karoid scrub on stony slopes, where guarri trees are sometimes seen. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Frandsen, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).