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 curvirama commonly known as Cape Candelabra Tree or Kei Candelabra Tree in English and Kaapse Kandelaarnaboom or Kei-naboom in Afrikaans is a South African endemic succulent found exclusively in the Eastern Cape Province. Under ideal conditions it can form a small tree as it does in its natural habitat. They have almost symmetrical spiny succulent stems and are said to be botanically close to several other species of the genus, like Euphorbia triangularis and Euphorbia tetragona.