[agavemonger]

Hi, Stan!

Good observations!

Those "relaxed" Euphorbias with the wavy arms have always been problematic. I believe they are not Euphorbia ingens, even though they have somewhat of a similar look. They are most likely yet another unknown species, as they are truly different and I have never observed any "sort of" intermediates. They either "wave around" all over the place or they don't. E. ingens is very vertical and formal when well grown. With large plants of E. ingens, any branches that start to lean at all for whatever reason (high winds from a major storm, for instance) just snap off and fall to the ground. There is most likely a description of this species somewhere in the old reports, as it is very distinct and would definitely stand out as different in situ. Any researchers out there?

I don't remember the "melted" plants @ Lotusland; Do you have pictures by any chance?

One of the problems with identifying tree Euphorbias is that they tend to be grown hard and ignored, and end up all kind of looking alike. When they are grown right next to each other, the differences are more easily discerned.

Very well grown smaller plants, when grown by the same grower under the same ideal conditions are very easy to differentiate.

In Ron's first picture above, notice that the ribs are straight and the spines have receded to mere prickles. This is classic "mature form" E. ingens.

Notice in the second photo that the ribs are very wavy and well-armed even though the plant is quite large. This is typical growth for E. ammak. Notice also how similar the basic form of the plant looks to E. ammak variegata, which one can observe all over the place.

I would very much like to get a cutting from each of these plants we are discussing this spring. I will grow them under the same full-sun conditions and then post photos of them next to each other when they have broken into new, aggressive and healthy growth. That is one way to be sure about what we are pontificating about. Any takers? All I need is a small piece!

The Monger