Euphorbia robecchii Pax

Seedlings to ± 1 m. high, with unbranched fleshy stem 4(–5)-angled, 3–4 cm. thick, pale green heavily mottled with darker green; angles ± straight, with spine-shields forming a continuous horny margin ± 2 mm. wide; spines 3–7 mm. long, 1.5–2.5 cm. apart. Young plants to ± 3 m., branching and rebranching irregularly; branches at first ascending then drooping, obtusely 3–4-angled, 1–1.5 cm. thick, uniformly greyish green, ± distinctly toothed, with teeth 3–5 cm. apart; spine-shields stout, 2–4 mm. wide, tapering abruptly above and below the spines up to ± 1 cm., becoming progressively shorter as further branches are produced; spines to 12 mm. long; prickles obsolete.. Mature tree 3–10(–13) m. high; trunk simple, to 40 cm. in diameter; bark grey, rough and fissured, with a few pit-scars resulting from fallen branches visible at higher levels; branches to 5 m. long, at first ascending, finally the lower ones spreading horizontally to form a rounded flat-based crown; secondary branches crowded at the apices, densely and irregularly rebranching; terminal branchlets obscurely 3-angled to cylindrical, marked with calloused obtusely triangular leaf-scars ± 2.5 × 2.5 mm. and 1–3 cm. apart immediately below the flowering eyes, rarely with a pair of minute spines on lower branches.. Leaves deltoid, ± 5 × 3 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked with peduncles to 5 mm. long and cyme-branches to 7 mm. long; bracts rounded, ± 4 × 5 mm.. Cyathia ± 4 × 9 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres, reddish brown; glands transversely oblong, ± 2 × 4 mm., yellow, just touching; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1.5 × 2 mm., red.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, plumose; stamens 5 mm. long.. Female flower: perianth with 3 distinct lobes, 1.5 mm. long; styles 3 mm. long, free to the base, apices slightly thickened, bifid.. Capsule exserted on an erect pedicel to 1 cm. long, deeply and acutely 3-lobed with truncate base, ± 8 × 20 mm., dark purplish grey.. Seeds subglobose, 3.5–4 mm. in diameter, pale greyish buff, smooth.. Fig. 93/1–3.

Red sandy soils with fairly open Acacia-Commiphora bushland; red sand overlying limestone, often forming groves in wadis; very common in certain areas such as the coastal region of S Somalia; often dominant in large stands.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.