CoronaCactus Nursery LLC

CoronaCactus Nursery LLC.

�Cactus & Succulent growers.

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Cultivation Key

� Full sun/Bright shade�� Moderate water

TEMP� Hardy to 40-45F if dry ��Deep pot / taproot

NOTES: E. obesa is a very popular plant in cultivation and surprisingly enough, more plants exist in cultivation than they do in habitat.

It is also a fairly common plant to use as for grafting. Its small size and life longevity make it a very suitable grafting stock.

It is not uncommon to have pots full of seedling E. obesa�s. If care is not taken when the seed pods open, many seedlings can pop up in several pots in your collection. Known as volunteers.

The brown color seen near the base (it also travels up the ribs on some plants) is normal corking and occurs with age.

Plant of the Month

March 2009

�

Baseball, Sea Urchin, Vetmensie

Euphorbia obesa

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge & Rubber Family)

Form: Euphorbia obesa is a solitary bodied plant. Globular in shape, although later becoming more cylindrical. It has a green to grey-green body color with some purple accents and normally has 8 ribs. The plant needs a deeper than normal pot to accommodate its large taproot. Euphorbia obesa is a rare endemic plant of the Great Karoo, south of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Illegal collecting and habitat destruction have almost wiped this plant from its habitat. Today it is protected by national (Nature Conservation) and international (CITES) legislation. The plants occur in karoo vegetation among shale fragments, where they grow in full sun or in the partial shade provided by dwarf shrubs. They are very well camouflaged and difficult to see. The habitat is very rocky and hilly with summer rainfall ranging from 200-300 mm, falling mainly in thunder showers. Summers are very hot: the average daily maximum about 79F/26C and the minimum about 52F/11C. Light frost occurs during the winter months.

Size: Typically growing to around 8inches in height and 4inches in diameter.

Flowers/Fruit: The flowers of Euphorbia species are referred to as a *Cyathia*. The Cyathia of E. obesa form at the apex of the plant during the summer. They are very small and are a green/yellow color. E. obesa is also dioecious, meaning there are both male and female plants. One of each is required to make seed. The fruit of E. obesa (and almost all Euphorbia�s) form a 3-angled capsule that emerges from the apex of the plant. Care should be taken to cover the plant when seed is to be collected. As when the seed capsule is ready, it will explode open and can throw the seeds several feet.

Sun/Water: E. obesa can take full sun to bright shade. More sun will produce a darker, purplish body color, while more shade will show a more green color. Water moderately in the summer and keep dry during the winter. In the southern regions, extreme heat during the summer may prompt E. obesa into a short dormancy period. If no noticeable new growth is visible, no water should be given at this time.

Propagation: In order to get seed, you must have a male and female plant. Propagation of E. obesa is done by seed. In rare cases, it can be propagated by a cutting or offset. A reasonably easy plant to cultivate from seed, e. Obesa can grow rather quickly when young.

Books/Websites: The Euphorbia Journals is a great reference set with 10 separate volumes. As well as Many other Euphorbia books. Available through Rainbow Gardens Bookshop. An excellent Euphorbia website based in Germany: Sukkulente Euphorbien More websites can be found on our Reference Links page.