Euphorbia silenifolia withering cyathia

The cyathia or false flowers of the Euphorbia silenifolia grow on stalks that may be short or long and lying on the ground or standing erectly. They are often branched. These flower stalks are not succulent, varying in colour from yellow to bright green or reddish.

Below each cyathium, as well as below every branching of a flower stalk, two opposing, pointed and folded bracts subtend; small, but leaf-like. The greenish false-flowers are small, only about 5 mm in diameter.

The five desiccated fanblade-like flat structures around the central floral remains would look green or yellow in a young cyathium. The leaf-like bracts below seem to last best, probably on a male flower not required to produce a fruit.

Sexes are found on different plants in this dioecious species. Flowering happens in winter and spring (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.bihrmann.com; www.llifle.com).