Small greenish brown ball-like succulent from South Africa. The fattest Euphorbia, usually the shape of a rough ellipsoid. Like a baseball when young, then taller than wide in old age. Often decorated with interesting cross banding between the ribs, and regularly in bloom with small cyathia at the very top. Usually solitary. Offsetting forms are probably hybrids.

Plants are male or female, and one of each is required to produce seed. This species easily hybridizes with other Euphorbias (like polygona, among others) and the hybrids can be unusual and attractive intermediate forms.

Requires strong light for best form, and excellent drainage for a long life. A good choice for a small pot (5-6 inches maximum) in a warm, bright location. Susceptible to rot under dark, moist, or cold conditions.

This plant falls within a group of similar-looking dwarf(ish) plants, all with ribs, some with tubercles, from South Africa. It belongs with hypogaea, jansenvillensis, juglans, meloformis (including valida), pseudoglobosa, susannae, symmetrica, and tubiglans. These plants are all dioecious (separate male and female individuals), with small (short) tubular cyathia. The closest plant to obesa is symmetrica, which is always wider than tall (obesa is the opposite in old age).

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The Euphorbia obesa is subglobulose in shape when young and elongates as it gets older becoming a column rather than a sphere. Thus it cannot always be identified by its round shape.

It likes sun and can be grown outdoors where frost is not too severe. Good drainage is essential. Water sparingly during the summer months and keep dry in winter.

E. obesa is a slow-growing, long-lived plant. Once established, it will be content to stay where it is for years. It can tolerate moderate shade. Sudden moves from shade into the sunlight should be avoided in order to prevent scorching.

The plant usually has 8 ribs that are vertical, broad, slightly raised with shallow furrows in between. However, the number of ribs tends to increase as the plant gets older (plants with up to ten ribs have been reported). The top of the ribs have tiny brown tubercles in a single series.

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