Euphorbia filiflora

Euphorbia filiflora, in Afrikaans commonly known as Nel se melkbos (Nels milk bush), is a multi-stemmed dwarf succulent reaching 30 cm in height. Who Nel was and his association with the plant are unknown.

The old plant 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 so with stem pride. Bushy tops of long leaf rosettes compensate cosmetically for the embarrassment, but the seniority argument is 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 south-eastern Richtersveld.

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