Euphorbia bergii

Euphorbia bergii is a spineless succulent (not reflecting on its character, but differentiating it from some other Euphorbia species). It has an underground tuber from which a continually increasing number of thick, succulent stems grow as the plant matures.

Young, short stems in the middle, older stems veering outwards around them, all regularly lined up according to length in a circular structure, results in a mound or low dome that would have pleased Euclid, as well as some sculptors. The plant has a long taproot.

E. bergii is found in South Africa in the east of the Northern Cape, the south-western Free State and possibly the extreme south of North West. The habitat is exposed karoid scrub on stony flats in varied soil types.

Some records regard E. bergii as a synonym for E. davyi, but the List of Southern African Succulent Plants includes both as species.

This picture was taken near Daniëlskuil south of Kuruman in the Northern Cape (iSpot; Smith, et al, 1997).