This diminutive “crown of thorns” was originally described by Leandri in 1946 as Euphorbia splendens var. imperatae. Ursch & Leandri subsequently, in 1955, reassigned the taxon to E. milii var. imperatae, while at the same time demoting E. splendens to a variety of E. milii. Unfortunately, the varietal status of imperatae was invalid, according to Euphorbia authority Susan Carter, since no Latin description was provided, a requirement of the Botanical Code of Nomenclature at the time. Therefore, we offer it here as the new cultivar ‘Imperato’, which, in keeping with the varietal name, still honors Imperato Ferrante (1550 – 1625), Italian apothecary and naturalist. Like the common Euphorbia milii var. splendens, this “little emperor” bears showy red bracts for most of the year, but these are smaller, nestled among the proportionately smaller, obovate leaves 3 cm × 1 cm (1 ¼ in × 3/8 in) vs. the lanceolate leaves of var. splendens, 5 cm × 2 cm (2 in × ¾ in). We offer rooted cuttings of HBG 22913, a plant received May 16, 1968, from the French connoisseur and collector, Julien Marnier-Lapostolle (1902 – 1976). $10.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 95 (2), Summer 2023