Medusoid Euphorbia: my obsession grows
Slowly but surely, I am getting more and more of these plants: they are relatively easy to grow and have amazing forms and flowers. They are called medusoid because they all grow snake-like branches from a central swollen stem, called a caudex. Whichever botanist named them was thinking of the mythical Greek Medusa that had snakes for hair.
They are almost impossible to identify when they aren't flowering because there are a few basic forms that look similar but each different species has distinct flowers.
This is Euphorbia gorgonis
This one is Euphorbia flanaganii
The flowers side by side clearly show a difference. Flanaganii is on the left and gorgonis on the right
Sometimes the caudex makes an offset, forming a new, separate plant. You can see the new little plant forming just above my thumb
I have no idea what the next two plants are, I will have to wait for flowers
If you look carefully, there are some differences in the shape of the branches and the length of time the leaves remain but that may not actually be a significant difference.
These two could be Euphorbia esculenta and inermis but only time will tell. I wish they would hurry up and flower and put me out of my misery of ignorance!
Medusoid Euphorbia are native to my country although the species I have here are found South of where I live. This one is native to my area but it died one year when it rained too much and I didn't realise that rainwater was getting in to the base of the pot and soaking the roots constantly, certain death for Euphorbia
Rest in peace Euphorbia clavaroides truncata
If you want to propagate these plants, it can only be done by sowing seeds or separating offsets. If you try to grow one of the arms, it will root and grow, but no caudex will form.
These plants are nice and beautiful!
Thank you! many people find them weird but I love their strange shapes
Interesting looking plants.😊
The stranger looking, the better!
😊👍
At first glance I thought I read...
Euphoria...
src
I know you did not mean that as harsh as it sounds. When it comes to plants and cats both, I have learned much from you these past few years.
I am truly ignorant when it comes to plants of many kinds...
Cats..=^,,^=
I do not know everything about cats. But then who does? I do have a spiritual connection to them tho, this I do know for sure...
Peanut Update please.!! LoL
Euphorbia cause euphoria in my world :) Peanut is good, I'll do an update soon. Lil guy is becoming huge!
I have to teach my cats to drive one day too! LoL
These plants looks amazing. Those flowers on the right are so colorful... This is something I would love to have in my garden.
They certainly are different. They would do well in your climate
mew!
Super!
:) Do you grow any of these? I cant remember if you posted some
Yes, there is one.
I posted a post more than two years ago, you saw her. Now it has become much larger :-) and blooms great!
Here is the link:
https://hive.blog/flowerphotography/@ludmila.kyriakou/bloom-my-euphorbia-caput-medusae-euphorbia-flanaganii
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