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 esculenta was previously known as Euphorbia inermis var. laniglans. It is commonly known as The True Vingerpol. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa where is can be found from Uitenhage to Jansenville, Graaf-Reinett and Somerset East. The main stem is buried with many smaller stems branching from it. The “head” measures 50 cm in diameter. The flowers are clusters of sweetly scented terminal cyathias. The involucres are filled with white wooly bracteoles. The species name “esculenta” means edible. Hermann Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth in 1908 told farmers to feed these plants to their stock during droughts as they are highly nutritious.