Description
Euphorbia abdelkuri (scientific name: Euphorbia abdelkuri RAD) is a succulent plant in the Euphorbiaceae family, native to Yemen’s Abdul Kuri Island and surrounding areas. The plant grows in a candle‑like clustered form, lacking leaves and spines. The stem diameter is about 5 centimeters, with a grayish‑white to brownish‑gray waxy surface. In the wild, the plant usually does not exceed 1 meter in height, but in cultivation it can reach up to 1.5 meters. Its most striking features are a unique trimerous inflorescence and yellow toxic latex, making it the only known Euphorbia species with yellow sap.
The plant grows on limestone and granite steep slopes at elevations of 150–270 meters, requiring full sun and a warm environment of 15–35 °C, with a winter minimum temperature that must remain above 15 °C. Moderate watering is needed during the growing season, with larger water requirements in summer, but cultivation often encounters maintenance problems. Wild populations have sharply declined for unknown reasons; in 1967 only four stands remained, and the species is now listed as endangered. Artificial propagation is mostly done by grafting onto Euphorbia rootstocks, as direct seed cultivation is difficult. The cultivated variety “Damask” is prized by collectors for its distinctive pinkish stem, yet it still retains the growth habits and toxic properties of the original species.
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