Euphorbia mauritanica flowers getting on

The development of this inflorescence of Euphorbia mauritanica has gone beyond mere forming the vital parts of the terminal umbel of cyathia. It shows the emerging green fruits, already partly formed. They are positioned in a circle surrounding the male cyathium with its ring of orange glands.

Age is conspicuous in the orange of the male flower or false flower. Its duties only last until its pollen is ripe and taken. The female cyathia, pseudo-flowers, still stylishly sport curved styles on top of the enlarging green ovaries, developing into fruit.

This photo was taken in October in the Rooiberg near Calitzdorp. Flowering starts in winter and continues through spring (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2009; iNaturalist).