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Euphorbia knuthii
The plant likes a sunny habitat, but can live in partial shade.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, watering should be severely restricted.
In the short term, it can tolerate at least 1,7 °C. The plant is not hardy.
Interesting caudex - a root system of thickened roots, growing up to 12.5 cm in diameter. The roots continue to grow underground. We can raise the base of the roots to the surface to create a more interesting plant.
Euphorbia knuthii is a succulent plant native to southern Africa. The epithet "knuthii" is named after the German botanist Paul Erich Otto Wilhelm Knuth (1854-1900).
The stem is covered with a beautiful white-green pattern and bears distinctive bumps on the body. At the top of these bumps are a pair of reddish-brown spines. The plant has distinctive thickened roots - caudex - which grow up to 12,5 cm in diameter. The caudex is located below the surface of the substrate but may emerge above it with age. Underground, the roots become thicker and more tangled. The caudex grows into long, semi-flexed shoots that can reach up to 20 cm in length over time.
Cyathia, the typical inflorescences of euphorbias, appear at the ends of the shoots, with bowl-shaped green necks.
When repotting Euphorbia knuthii, the distinctive and intricate root system of the caudex can be removed and planted above the substrate. The plant, when the surface is disturbed, produces a white latex milk that is mildly toxic. If it touches the skin, wash the area with water. The plant can be fertilized at your discretion. Euphorbia knuthii tolerates dry air and high temperatures well. It impresses not only with its interesting stem and interesting caudex, but also with its easy care and hardiness.