Euphorbia braunsii stem surfaces

The stems of Euphorbia braunsii are covered in neatly arranged rhomboid, bulges or tubercles with white, dry, central spots where the leaves have dropped off. These regular patterns give a pleasing pineapple-like appearance to the green stems that have to help photosynthesise, as the leaves stay for such a short while. 

On specimens that have flowered much, the scattered remains of the peduncles of cyathia turned white and dry may be many, persisting among the stem tubercles. The branches of E. rudis, now merged with E. braunsi, were a little thinner as here (Frandsen, 2017; Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; iSpot; JSTOR).