Euphorbia bergii stems

The stems of Euphorbia bergii stand erect upon the underground tuber in a formation halfway to parade ground order. The outer stems are gradually pushed outwards as more new ones appear in the centre of the growing plant. The overall effect is a smooth, flattish dome in which the longest stems add width rather than height. The stems are cylindrical, bulging a little near the tops as shown in the photo, where the younger green tubercles appear bigger than lower down.

Note the pattern regularity in the arrangement of these tubercles on this and many other spineless Euphorbia species. These rhomboid surface structures covering the stems are tipped with white spots, the marks where the deciduous leaves of earlier times had been attached. The only remaining leaves, a central tuft of narrowly oblong or linear leaves stands on top of every stem. The leaves have fleshy blue-green or reddish surfaces with margins tilting upwards (iSpot).