Euphorbia hamata red male cyathium

The floral bracts of Euphorbia hamata cyathia steal the show at bloomtime. They are shaped like boat ends pointing away from the inner floral parts. Keeled and pointed, the bract shape lends elegance, as does the impressive pink-red or pastel colouring contrasting against the predominantly grey surroundings.

E. hamata cyathia grow solitary at stem-tips, but the plants are so densely branched that the rounded shrub surface may appear covered in flowers (really false flowers or pseudo-flowers) during the colder months of the year.

The species is dioecious, that means male and female flowers grow on separate plants. This one produces pollen; it has no ovary (Frandsen, 2017; Smith and Crouch, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; http://llifle.com).