E. ecklonii (Klotzsch & Garcke) BaillonEuphorbia ecklonii

Distribution: Rep. South Africa (Western Cape); at 90 to 150 m altitude.

E. eckloniiDescription: Dwarf euphorbia, about 1 cm high, main stem almost absent, merging into a tuberous main root, forming an elongated caudex of 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter, with a rosette of annual leaves at the apex; spineless; leaves pressed upon the ground, 2 to 5 cm long, 0.8 to 2.5 cm broad, elliptic, somewhat fleshy, glabrous, reticulately veined beneath; dioecious, cymes pedunculate umbel-like, peduncles 6 to 25 mm long, with 3 to 5 cyathia, involucre cup-shaped, 3.5 to 5 mm in diameter (those of the male plants bigger than those of the female), 5 glands, elliptic, margin entire.

Cultivation: Sensitive to excess water, needs especially permeable soil, with two periods of dormancy (December to January and June to August), keep completely dry during these months, minimum temperature 10 °C, during growth periods minimum temperature 14 °C ; propagation by seeds only.

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