Euphorbia is a genus in the family Euphorbiaceae. Consisting of 2008 species, Euphorbia is the fourth largest genus of flowering plants. Succulent species originate mostly from Africa, the Americas and Madagascar. The common name “spurge” derives from the Middle English/Old French espurge (“to purge”), due to the use of the plant’s sap as a medicinal purgative. The plants are annual or perennial herbs, woody shrubs or trees. Smaller Euphorbias make excellent potted plants while larger species are valuable landscaping plants.

Euphorbia tuberculata is endemic to South Africa with a distribution that reaches from the Western Cape and Northern Cape from Malmesbury north to Namaqualand. The main stem of this succulent is mostly submerged below the soil. From the main stem appears a rosette of decumbent or erect stems that are 4cm thick and up to 7.5cm in height. The stems are tuberculed and green. This is a winter growing summer dormant species and should be kept relatively dry during this period.