Euphorbia clandestina
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Common names: Volstruisnek
An erect columnar spineless succulent, usually with a single thick stem but sometimes branching, with a loose spiral arrangement of knobby tubercules and topped with a tuft of narrow turquoise colored leaves that are strongly keeled and minutely hairy. The typically green stems can turn an attractive reddish hue in winter and in spring appear the small flowers with red tinged green bracts that form at the tip of the stems between the tubercules. Plant in most any soil in full sun (best) to light shade and irrigate little to occasionally.
Sowing instructions: The sowing medium should be light and poorer in nutrients than normal commercial plant compost. A mineral soil can also be used, such as fine to medium grade sand to which can be added a little finely sifted peat. The soil should be thoroughly wetted by standing the containers in water. Sow the seeds evenly and not too thickly on the surface of the soil, press lightly and cover with a very thin layer of soil or sand no more than twice the thickness of the seeds. The temperature at night should not go below 18 °C, although by day it can rise as high as 40 °C. 25 °C is ideal. Basically higher temperatures bring faster germination, but full sun should be avoided to prevent the young seedlings scorching.
Locality: De Rust. Harvest: October 2024