Euphorbia meloformis (meloformis means "looking like an apple") is found in the Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Albany districts. This beautiful octagonal Euphorbia is normally found in pebbly grasslands , half sunk into the soil and well camouflaged by its surroundings.
Euphorbia meloformis in habitat growing in the open. Usually the plants are found amongst grass. The plants are related to the well known Euphorbia obesa , as well as to Euphorbia valida and Euphorbia symmetrica. Superfically there is some resemblance to the American pentagonal cactus, Astrophytum myriostigma, or "Bishops Cap". Genetically as well as geographically the two species are however miles apart. The latter belonging to the family Cactaceae. It does however illustrate how two different plant families make similar adaptations to withstand the conditions under which they survive.
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