Euphorbia filiflora leaves and fruit

Euphorbia filiflora bears long, thin leaves at stem-tips in winter. The photo was taken in August in Goegap.

The linear leaves are fleshy, channelled above and rounded below, slightly and variably curved. The leaf colour varies from dark green to grey-green or blue-green. Leaves become about 3 cm long. Side branches also bear leaves, these branches becoming 2 cm in diameter.

Some globular, dry fruit are present on long, reddish stalks among the leaves in picture.

There may occasionally be several leaves emerging together from one tubercle centre. This probably heralds the beginnings of another side-branch of the future (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Williamson, 2010; JSTOR; iNaturalist).