Euphorbia spinea and parasite

A small growth, probably a stem parasite was spotted on this Euphorbia spinea plant in Namaqualand during August. Only the one wrinkled, multicoloured body, small and shortly three-branched object was observed. Whether it is a flowering type is unknown.

Some tiny, black, pointed leaf remains are visible upon the stems. They are spaced and alternate or spiralling at ringed stem nodes (Frandsen, 2017; iNaturalist; JSTOR).