Species Euphorbia pillansii
Pictures from Observations
Range:
Location unknown
{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[]}
Etymology of Euphorbia:
Gk. eu- = well; phorbe = pasture or fodder; probably after Euphorbus, Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania. Juba was educated in Rome and married the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra. He was apparently interested in botany and had written about an African cactus-like plant from the slopes of Mount Atlas, which he had found or knew about, which was used as a powerful laxative. That plant may have been Euphorbia resinifera, and like all Euphorbias had a latexy exudate (milky emulsion from certain plants). Euphorbus had a brother named Antonius Musa who was the physician to Augustus Caesar in Rome. When Juba heard that Caesar had honoured his physician with a statue, he decided to honour his own physician by naming the plant he had written about after him.
Etymology of pillansii:
Named after Capetonian botanist Neville Stuart Pillans (1884-1964). He joined the staff at Bolus herbarium in 1918 and worked there till his retirement. He had a penchance for succulents and did Monographs of the Restionaceae, Bruniaceae, Phylica, Agathosma and Metalasia. He also did some work on the genus Hermannia, but gave up two years before his death.
Scientific name:
Euphorbia pillansii N.E. Br.
Common names:
Kleinnoorsdoring
Synonym of:
Unknown
Long etymology:
Synonym status:
Monoecious, much-branched spinescent shrublet, 15--30 cm; branches cylindrical-clavate, 25--60 mm diam., obtusely 7--9-angled (4 when young), with numerous spinescent peduncles 8--20 mm long often branching near apex. Leaves 1--2 mm long, deciduous. Cyathia solitary to several per peduncle, 4--5 mm diam., glands entire, green. Dec.--May. Karroid scrub on stony slopes, KM (W Karoo to Vanwyksdorp).
Observations of Taxon
Euphorbia pillansii
Name of observer:
Alma Möller & Rolf Becker (David)
Date observed:
Date observed unknown
Euphorbia pillansii
Name of observer:
Pauline Bohnen (David)
Date observed:
Date observed unknown