Euphorbia ingens green upper branchlets

Euphorbia ingens grows numerous four- or five-angled green, upper-branchlets or stems, erect and close together in the tree's crown. They have irregularly spaced constrictions forming segments along the length of branchlets. There are paired spines on spaced dark spine shields, cushioned along the branchlet margins. The spines may often be absent on old trees. Between the margins the green smooth surfaces may be slightly wavy, especially on younger trees.

The yellowish green cyathia (flowers or really false flowers), grow in clusters on the highest branchlet stem ridges, to be seen late in autumn and to midwinter.

The almost spherical fruit is a three-lobed capsule, 1,5 cm in diameter, becoming red or purple as it ripens. It is mostly seen on the tree around the end of winter but some may still be there near the end of spring (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Noad and Birnie, 1994; www.plantzafrica.com).