Euphorbia spinea and parasite
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Thabo Maphisa
A small growth, probably a stem parasite was spotted on this Euphorbia spinea plant in Namaqualand during August. Only the one wrinkled, multicoloured body, a small and shortly three-branched object was observed.
Some tiny, black, pointed leaf remains are visible upon the stems. They are spaced and alternate or spiralling at ringed stem nodes (Van Rooyen and Van Rooyen, 2019; Frandsen, 2017; iNaturalist; JSTOR).