E. duranii Ursch & Leandri Euphorbia duranii

Distribution: var. ankaratrae Ursch & Leandri + var. duranii:Madagascar.

Description: Dwarf shrub, densely branching, almost hemispherical, 20 to 50 cm high and up to 1.5 m in diameter (var. duranii) or 15 to 20 cm high (var. ankaratrae); main stem slightly 8-angled; branches up to 12 mm (var. ankaratrae) or 15 to 20 mm (var. duranii) in diameter, 8 up to 10 mm at the base, club shaped; spines in pairs, 5 to 8 mm (var. ankaratrae) to 10 to 16 mm (var. duranii) long, broadened at the base; leaves persistent during growth period, in terminal rosettes, 3 to 5 cm long, 14 to 35 mm broad, ovate-lanceolate, apex apiculate, grey green, bright red before leaves drop, peduncles short; cymes at the apices of the branches, consisting of 2 to 4 cyathia, peduncles 5 to 10 mm long, cyathophylls spreading, 10 mm long and 9 mm wide (ssp. duranii) or  6 mm long and 5 mm wide (var. ankaratrae), apex apiculate, white to pale yellow, faintly reddish when withering. Similar species: E. fianarantsoae Ursch & Leandri, the latter with branches up to 2.5 cm in diameter, spines not broadened at the base, cyathophylls larger.

Cultivation: Very sensitive to excess moisture, needs additional drainage, keep completely dry during winter, do not start watering before leaves appear (beginning of may), minimum temperature 10 °C; propagation by seeds and cuttings.

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