Euphorbia meloformis - The Desert's Forbidden Fruit

Euphorbia meloformis is a ribbed South African succulent with a rounded stem and a strong resemblance to a tiny melon. This has caused understandable confusion in the produce department. Its growth is held in the stem, and small flowering structures appear near the upper ribs rather than on a sprawling branch. Though it can look like a cactus, Euphorbia is a different genus and family; the resemblance is a useful visual trick, not a botanical identity. The banding and ribs give it plenty of detail without asking for much shelf space. Please do not put it in a fruit salad.