Euphorbia cooperi

The fruits and cyathia of Euphorbia cooperi add to the allure of the tree (SA Tree List No. 346). Flowers, whether they are standard, perfect or modified, are generally presented at the top of plants, as pollination and seed dispersal requirements are better served that way.

The cyathia of this, the bushveld candelabra tree or noorsdoring in Afrikaans, appear on the top pyramidal or heart-shaped segment of the elegantly shaped stems of the tree, always along the spiny ridges.

The fruits start off mainly green, to turn red later in the season around midsummer. The marked triangular capsule shape is evident in this photo.

The dangerous white latex of this tree is one of the plant substances used in Africa for poisoning fish, paralysing them for easier catching. E. cooperi is sometimes called the deadliest of the Euphorbia trees. 

The species distribution is in all provinces north of the Vaal River and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as widespread in southern Africa.

It grows on rocky outcrops, in wooded grassland and scrub. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Grant and Thomas, 1997; http://redlist.sanbi.org).