Euphorbia ingens branchlets

Shallowly channelled stem angularity characterises this Euphorbia ingens tree, seen here in a park in Worcester during July. Thorny, vertical ridges frame flat stem parts that serve as photosynthesising foliage reflecting sunlight from the smooth, green surfaces. New growth branching continues erectly in the dense, rounded crown.

The clustered inflorescences are restricted to discontinuous stem-tip parts of the spiny ridges (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).