Euphorbia ferox

Euphorbia ferox, in Afrikaans commonly called voetangel (foot awn or foot sting), is one of the low-growing Karoo euphorbias that branches, becoming about 30 cm tall and the clump about 60 cm wide. 

The thick columns or stems branch below ground, from a central base near the surface. The stems are armed with vertical columns of short but hefty spines or thorns along the nine to sixteen vertical ridges, ribs or stem wings. While young, the spines on new growth are red or purple, the old ones lower down turning pale grey as they dry. The spines start off as peduncles of the cyathia, then harden after the flowers drop off, taking up defensive duties.

Small leaves of about 2 mm long are found in the growth season at stem-tips. They dry and drop off soon. 

E. ferox produces yellow cyathia or false flowers of about 5 mm in diameter from autumn to spring. 

The species distribution is in the east of the Western Cape, from Calitzdorp in the Little Karoo to parts of the Great Karoo, as far east as Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.

The habitat is arid and stony flats and slopes in succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo and thicket. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

This is a popular garden plant having found its way in that capacity to many parts of the world. The plant copes with drought and temperature extremes, although some summer watering and semi-shade make it look better. The plant tops are browsed by small herbivores, especially in its growth season during winter (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).