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 enopla commonly known as Pincushion Euphorbia is a much branched succulent shrub. It is covered with many red spines of up to 1.5cm in length. As with most Euphorbias, when a plant is cut or damaged it exudes a thick, white, milky, latex-like sap. This is said to be the most attractive of all the euphorbias. The ribbed branches are about 3 cm in diameter with the spines tightly arranged in rows along the ribbed edges. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces where it can be found from Touwsrivier to Montagu and Jansenville.