Euphorbia filiflora

Euphorbia filiflora, commonly the wire spurge and in Afrikaans known as Nel se melkbos (Nel's milkbush), is a much-branched dwarf stem succulent reaching 30 cm in height. Who Nel was and his association with the plant are unknown.

The old stems in picture are no longer as resolutely erect as in their youth. Multiple side-branches on each mature stem add weight to the argument of gravity that interferes with stem pride. Bushy tops of long leaf rosettes compensate cosmetically for the embarrassment, the seniority argument reinforced by greyness on the tubercled lower stems.

The species distribution is in the north of the Northern Cape, from around Springbok to Steinkopf and the southeastern Richtersveld.

The habitat is succulent Karoo where the plants grow on rocky slopes, outcrops and gravel flats. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).