Euphorbia mammillaris young false flower

False flowers or cyathia are intricate affairs in the case of Euphorbia mammillaris. Near the base there are sepal-like or bract-like cyathophylls, “floral leaves” that might be mistaken for petals.

A ring of elongated, flat-topped nectar glands like SKA dishes surround the floral business centre, serving as restaurants for all insect visitors. Yellow anthers on erect stalks rise in this pollen shopping centre; positioned to touch, but not harm the restaurant guests.

The green stem tip segments, the tiling upon which all these structures are based, have fine white mottling in the picture upon their surfaces, surrounded by honeycomb-like margins. Small green and red leaves, sessile and with pointed tips, are erect or angled among the cyathia. These leaves never last long (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Wikipedia).