Euphorbia platycephala Pax

Glabrous perennial herb with a fleshy cylindrical rootstock 20–30 × 2–4 cm. and ± fleshy annual stems to 30 cm. high.. Leaves ± fleshy, sessile, obovate to 12 × 4 cm., base cuneate, apex rounded to obtuse and minutely apiculate, margin entire; stipules filamentous ± 1 mm. long, deciduous.. Cymes axillary and in terminal 3–4-branched umbels with primary rays to 10 cm. long, forking 2–4 times; bracts deltoid to 4.5 × 4 cm base subcordate, apex obtuse apiculate, those at the base of the umbel similar to the leaves.. Cyathia on peduncles to 1.5 mm. long, 5.5 × 10 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands 5, spreading, transversely elliptic ± 1.5 × 2–3.5 mm., outer margin obscurely crenulate; lobes rounded, 1.5 × 3 mm., margin entire and minutely ciliate.. Male flowers many: bracteoles laciniate, with feathery apices; stamens 8 mm. long with anther-thecae minutely hispid.. Female flower: styles 2 mm. long, joined at the base for 0.5 mm. then widely spreading, with shortly bifid apices.. Capsule on a pedicel 2.5 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed, 1 × 1.2 cm.. Seeds globose, 4.5 mm. in diameter, brownish grey, surface reticulately wrinkled.