Masai Spurge
Monadenium coccineum, Spurge Family ( Euphorbiaceae ), Masai Spurge, Also called: Euphorbia neococcinea.
Monadenium coccineum, is a perennial, herbaceous, succulent; from Tanzania, which arises from a tuberous root and forms yellow-green stems that are 1/8– 1/5 in. thick, simple, or from injury branched, glabrous, which reach 1-2 feet in height. The cyathia are red, making this a most attractive species. It is easy to grow .
A very detailed description of it's flowers is as follows:
Many-flowered, dense, forming a cluster about 1 1/2 in. in diam., with peduncles 1/4– 2/3 in. long, glabrous in all parts. Bract-cup 2–2 1/2 lin. long, 2-keeled down the back, 2-lobed to about half-way down and the lobes somewhat auricled and overlapping behind, truncate at the top, thin, herbaceous, deep red or purple. Involucre 2–2 1/2 lin. long, urceolate, broadest below the middle, thence narrowed to the thickened revolute rim-like rugulose gland around the mouth, shortly exceeding the fringe of the inner lobes. Ovary with a small obtusely 3-lobed perianth at its base, glabrous, exserted on a recurved pedicel. Capsule about 2 lin. long, 3/4 lin. in diam., oblong, acutely 3-angled, with two slight keels along each angle.
In Arizona it is usually dormant until about mid-Fall. Then the leaves open in about mid-November and flower near the end of November through December.
Easy to culture, it forms a subterrainiun caudex; which may be raised to create attractive unusual caudiciform.
Warning!
The seeds are poisonous if ingested.
All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.
Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction. We have had no problem doing so.
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F).
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F).
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F).
Height: Can form up to 2 feet high and 4 foot wide. Most are less than 2 feet high, about 15 inches.
Flowers: Pink, Rose/Mauve, Magenta (Pink-Purple), Fuchsia (Red-Purple), miniature orchid-shaped flowers in winter.
Blooming Time: Phoenix Arizona, November to December.
Seeds: Seeds immature, 1 1/4 lin. long, oblong, truncate at each end, 4-angled, minutely tuberculate and with a small sessile yellow caruncle at the apex.
Stems: 5 angled, segmented.
Leaves: The leaves are green, deciduous, variegated, mottled, veined, with at redish colored serrated edge.
Found: Native to Tanzania.
Elevation: 0-700 feet.
Habitat: It grows well in Cactus Potting Soil. It needs good drainage and aeration. It does best in Arizona in partial shade.
Miscellaneous: Photos Taken At Glendale, Arizona. November 21, 2010. This plant is suitable for growing indoors. It is drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping.
this plant is resistant to deer, provides winter interest, suitable for growing in containers. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) to 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral). If kept indoors, place in a well light place.
