South African succulent Euphorbia with white or yellow fragrant flowers. One of the largest medusas. Like the others, it grows a central "head" with many "arms" (the venomous snakes of Greek mythology) radiating outward around it. The stem may grow a few inches high and wide, the total width of the plant a foot or more. The arms are relatively thick for this group.

Best form in strong light. May be self fertile. Usually grown from seed. Self-seeding in the succulent container garden. Growth seriously retarded by underpotting. Vulnerable to scale (check the underside of the arms). Excellent landscape plant.

Known as a "vingerpol" (finger plant) or "soetvingerpol" (sweet finger plant) in Afrikaans. There are a few other vingerpols, all with the medusa form. The species name for this plant means "edible" but presumably not to humans, only livestock.

This species is very difficult to distinguish from E. inermis and E. huttoniae when young or not in bloom. It can be resolved from the former based on the color and shape of the glands (on inermis they are white and bifid, with longish processes). It may be very difficult to resolve from the latter even when in bloom. Mature inermis or huttoniae plants have persistent peduncles, unlike esculenta, whose stems are naked after flowering.

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