| Euphorbia caput-medusae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Euphorbioideae |
| Tribe: | Euphorbieae |
| Subtribe: | Euphorbiinae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. caput-medusae |
| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia caput-medusae Aiton |
|
Euphorbia caput-medusae ("Medusa's Head") is a plant of the Euphorbia genus, that occurs in and around Cape Town, South Africa.
This succulent really does resemble the head of Medusa, with many serpent-like stems arising from a short, central caudex. It is still common around Cape Town where it grows in deep sand or rocky outcrops on the coast. It is particularly common in the Peninsula Shale Renosterveld vegetation of Signal Hill. They sometimes exceed 1 metre in diameter, partly buried in the ground, covered with numerous crowded branches. [1]