Euphorbia pulvinata keeping interesting company

A special sighting in rocky grassland in some easterly parts of South Africa, Euphorbia pulvinata maintains a very orderly system of stem lengthening over its lifetime.

The green or greenish yellow stems start of globose bearing short-lived, rudimentary leaves annually on new growth. Small white scars remain where the leaves drop off.

Stem lengthening happens gradually, developing and retaining a smoothly coordinated plant-wide mound formed by many stems. Stem-tip size and shape are likewise controlled, usually seven- to ten-angled, each up to 3,5 cm in diameter. The stem-tips remain neatly rounded while slightly recessed in the centre (Frandsen, 2017; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://www.llifle.com; https://www.plantbook.co.za; https://worldofsucculents.com).