Euphorbia cumulata R.A.Dyer

A spiny plant forming colonies of stems arising separately from rhizomes; stems erect, unbranched, at first distant becoming congested especially under moister conditions, 3-9 ins. rarely up to 15 ins. high, 3/4-1 1/4 ins. in diam., with 7-9 angles, glabrous green; angles 2-4 mm prominent, separated by triangular grooves; leaves rudimentary, lanceolate, pubescent; spines (modified peduncles) solitary, spreading 1/2-1 1/2 ins. long, minutely pubescent when young becoming glabrous, green then turning grey; peduncles 2-5 mm long, solitary, clustered at the apex of the stem, bearing 5-6 lanceolate acute bracts; female involucre 3 mm diam. (male 1 1/2-2 times larger) cup-shaped, shortly pubescent, with 5 glands, and 5 toothed lobes; glands 1 mm in their greater diam., separate, spreading or suberect, transversely elliptic, entire, wrinkled or punctate on the upper surface and margin; ovary sessile, minutely pubescent; styles 3 mm long, united into a column for half their length, bifid at their tips, capsule 6-8 mm diam. globose pubescent often becoming glabrous; seeds, smooth mottled.