Description
Euphorbia opuntioides is a succulent plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. Its scientific name is usually written as *Euphorbia opuntioides*, and common names in Chinese include “Luoshi Qilin” or “An Luo Qilin.”
**Morphological characteristics**
Luoshi Qilin is a deciduous shrub that can reach a height of about 1 meter. The main stem is roughly 3 centimetres in diameter, and the branches are about 1 centimetre thick. The leaves are narrow, lance‑shaped, approximately 4 centimetres long, grow during the summer and fall off in winter. The spines are hard and bend downward, reaching lengths of up to 15 millimetres. The inflorescence is a compound umbel that usually bears about 20 cup‑shaped flowers, with colours ranging from olive green to yellow, orange, and red. The fruit capsule is about 3 millimetres in diameter.
**Distribution and habits**
The species is native to Madagascar but is now widely distributed in North America and southern China. It prefers bright light, is drought‑tolerant, but should be protected from low temperatures (the minimum tolerable temperature is about 15 °C). Its tuber has strong water‑storage capacity, making it well adapted to arid environments.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.