This is sure to become a household name among collectors with a fondness for syllables. Euphorbia collectors may want it too. E. stenoclada ssp stenoclada is unique in the Madagascan euphorbia flora for its flattened, thorny branches. Subspecies ambatofinandranae has mostly rounded protrusions from the stems, and new growth covered with a golden tomentum that makes a lovely foil for the terminal clusters of orange cyathia. It is also the smaller ssp, forming trees to only 2-3 m vs. the typical 4.5 m. It grows on cipolinic limestone outcrops with other limestone endemics such as Aloe calcairophila and A. capitata ssp cipolinicola. E. stenoclada ssp ambatofinandranae is known only from these outcrops near the village of Ambatofinandrahana, W of Ambositra in central Madagascar. HBG 91551, plants from seed collected in habitat 4 Dec 2002 by Röösli and Hoffmann (2902). $12.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 77 (2), March - April, 2005