- Euphorbia obesa
Taxobox
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Euphorbia obesa
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
subclassis =Rosidae
familia =Euphorbiaceae
subfamilia =Euphorbioideae
tribus =Euphorbieae
subtribus =Euphorbiinae
genus = "Euphorbia "
species = "E. obesa"
binomial = "Euphorbia obesa"
binomial_authority = Hook.Euphorbia obesa is a subtropical succulent
species ofEuphorbia genus . It comes fromSouth Africa , especially in theCape Province .The plant is
dioecious which means that a subject has only male or female flowers.In the wild, it is endangered because over-collection and poaching. And because of its slow growth, and the fact that the pod contains only 2 to 3 seeds. But it is widely cultivated in botanical gardens.
Description
Euphorbia obesa looks like a perfect ball without thorn extremely decorative. Its diameter is 6 cm for young subjects, but can reach 15 cm for the old ones.Its shape is spherical for young subjects and cylindrical for the old ones. It contains a water reservoir for periods of drought.
It almost always shows 8 ribs adorned with small deep gibbosity regularly planted on the edges. It is green with horizontal lighter or darker stripes. In the wild and direct sunlight, it shows red and purple areas.
Small flowers are insignificant in
apex . In fact, like all Euphorbias, flowers are calledCyathea s or "cyanthum".Like all Euphorbias, the latex sap is toxic.
Living in similar conditions on two different continents, Euphorbia obesa presents a form convergence with
Astrophytum asterias which is a Cactaceae frome Mexico.Cultivation
" 'Euphorbia obesa"' needs light and sandy soil. It supports and appreciates copious watering in summer. But it must be kept completely dry in winter. The temperature should not drop below 5 degrees C.
It does not ramifies and can be reproduced only by seeding.
External Links
* [http://www.aiaps-photos.org/recherche_simple.php?a=r&t=s&motsclefs=Euphorbia%20%obesa photos on www.AIAPS.org]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
