Euphorbia rudis leaves and cyathia at the stem top

The leaves of Euphorbia rudis can be seen growing in a small tuft from the stem top, one each on the upper tubercular bulges that emerge from the centre as the stem grows. They are narrowly oblong, almost linear, folded in along the slightly uneven margins, to form a central channel to their rounded tips. Leaf colour is blue-green, sometimes with red on the margins. The leaf texture is fleshy and smooth. Leaves are deciduous, dropping off very early to leave the white marks seen on the tubercle tips of the stem in the picture.

This plant was seen in April just south of the Gariep near Keimoes (Williamson, 2010; JSTOR; iSpot).