Euphorbia ingens, a young plant

This young Euphorbia ingens shows healthy growth after transplanting into a Gauteng garden. E. ingens can grow fast in favourable conditions, also in gardens with compatible growth conditions. The stems are straight and smooth, apart for the stem ridges.

E. ingens false flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees and other insects that eat pollen and drink nectar. In return the insects carry the sticky pollen around to more flowers, performing the vital pollination securing seed set for the plant species.

The fruits of the plant are edible for birds that may also nest in the branches of these trees. Woodpeckers in particular often use withered segments for this purpose. Fruit and seed eaters are important to plants for the dispersal of their seeds. This ensures wider physical spread among new plants, increased species distribution and thus plant survival probability.

All this activity is welcomed by gardeners. They appreciate the bird and insect visits for transforming their living areas into cherished spots, resembling nature better. Would be good if all gardeners contributed to the original Garden of Eden, taking care of nature on the earth all over, where people used to roam before they started farming (Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).