Tolda (Euphorbia aphylla)

Shrub, very woody at base, stems succulent, leafless, up to 80-100 cm tall (although it does not usually exceed 50 cm). Branches fleshy, glabrous, contain latex, like all the species of the genus Euphorbia. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow; fruits are capsules, brown to reddish-brown, which explode when ripe, thus contributing to seed dispersal. An endemic of Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Gomera, where it can be locally very common and even dominant in coastal areas and xeric soils, up to 800 m. Despite such abundance, in Tenerife it is relegated to the northwestern sector, from Los Silos to Punta de Teno, while in Gran Canaria and La Gomera it is more widely distributed. It is related to other leafless species of Euphorbia, which are distributed over the African continent, Arabian Peninsula, Socotra and other neighbouring islands.