Teat Barrelwort

Euphorbia mammillaris (often mis-spelled Euphorbia mamillaris) is a plant species endemic to Cape Province of South Africa. Euphorbia mammillaris, also known as African or Indian corn-cob, is a fast-growing shrublet, with thick stems that are chalky green, erect and ribbed.

The variegated form, E. mammillaris variegata, is normally a beige-white colour when protected under shade cover, trees, other plants, or rocks; its white stems will become tinged with magenta, fuchsia, and tones of rosy-pink in areas of more sun exposure, times of drought, or in colder weather. Nearing maturity, the plant can reach a foot to two feet tall. Each stem can have from seven to seventeen ribs of thick, hexagonal tubercles growing next to each other vertically, which resembles the look of a corn-cob. The pseudo-spines are pinkish white, thick and pointy, almost like blunt toothpicks, only up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long and scattered around the top of the plants. From late winter to early summer, this succulent produces small red and orange flowers from each stem.