Euphorbia silenifolia withering cyathia

The cyathia or false flowers of the Euphorbia silenifolia grow in winter and early spring on stalks that lie on the ground or are erect. These often-branched peduncles or flower stalks, producing several cyathia per stem, vary in colour from yellow to bright green or reddish. They are not succulent and from 1 cm to 5 cm long.

Below each cyathium, as well as below every branching of a flower stalk, there are two opposing, pointed, folded bracts that spread, small and leaf-like. The greenish false flowers are small, only about 5 mm in diameter. The five desiccated flat structures like fan blades around the central floral remains are glands that would look green or yellow in a young cyathium. 

The leaf-like bracts below seem to last best, probably here on a male flower not required to produce a fruit. Sexes are found on different plants in this dioecious species (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iNaturalist; www.bihrmann.com; www.llifle.com).