Euphorbia burmannii in the flowering season

Euphorbia burmannii, called steenbokbos or bloumelkbos in Afrikaans, is a multi-stemmed succulent occurring widely in the Eastern Cape, Little Karoo, Great Karoo and the west coast northwards through Namaqualand, the Richtersveld and into Namibia. Whilst drought tolerant, it is thought by some to be unpalatable to grazing animals, although indications have also been found (www.elsenburg.com) that it is as palatable to sheep as for instance old man saltbush.

Old man saltbush or Atriplex nummularia has been widely introduced on stock farms in the central arid region of South Africa as emergency grazing. The soetdoring (Vachellia karroo) fruit pods also palatable to game and stock feature as fodder in these parts. Availability that decreases in drought, determines what will be consumed first.

Steenbokkos has cylindrical green stems with short-lived leaves on the young growth at the stem tips. In dry conditions pieces may drop off the plant and take root if conditions allow. It produces yellow flowers in winter and spring.