Euphorbia avasmontana on a stony slope

These Euphorbia avasmontana plants were photographed in the north of the Northern Cape during October, showing the typical habitat.

There used to be (or are) two recognised varieties of E. avasmontana, viz. var. avasmontana (the plant in picture) and var. sagittaria that also grows in the Northern Cape and Namibia. (See the List of Southern African Succulent Plants by Smith, et al, 1997.)

E. avasmontana is similar to E. virosa and some other large Euphorbia species of the region. Differences lie in the scars made by fallen cyathia, the shape of the capsules, the branching and the shape of the stems.

The habitat is exposed stony slopes in semi-desert land receiving low rainfall and subject to extreme temperatures. The annual rainfall in this habitat varies between 150 mm and 300 mm per annum. This plant is often seen in the company of Aloidendron dichotomum (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006; iNaturalist; www.cactus-art.biz).