Euphorbia horrida, the African milk barrel, is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to South Africa. It is a cactus-like shrub showing remarkable similarities to the true cacti of the New World, and thus an example of convergent evolution.[2] Growing to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), it has blue-green, heavily ridged spiny stems carrying solitary green flowers in summer. In temperate regions it must be grown in heated conditions under glass.
| Euphorbia horrida | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. horrida
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| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia horrida | |
It develops new shoots laterally at the base of the plant (offset)s, often forming roots and thus a successful means of propagation.
The Latin specific epithet horrida means "with many prickles".[3]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4][5]
References edit
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ "Cactus art - Euphorbia horrida". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Euphorbia horrida". Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 38. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
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