Euphorbia heptagona cyathia

The cyathia of Euphorbia heptagona grow at stem-tips on red, fleshy stalks that will later dry out to become spines on the stem ridges. As the cyathia drop off, the stalks age and join the older ones lower down on the sides of the stems. They first lose their redness when turning black, then the black becomes pale grey as they dry.

The top parts of these stems are green near the five yellow-green bracteoles that form the enveloping involucre, the base of each cyathium, a pseudanthium or false flower. Initially the involucre is closed, opening to display either a female flower, consisting of a pistil with ovary at the base, or a few male flowers, each in the form of a single, stalked anther. The cyathia in picture appear like male ones (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Smith, et al, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; JSTOR; iNaturalist; iSpot).