This member of the Euphorbiaceae family was given this name by Leslie Charles Leach in 1973. It is found in southern Malawi and central Mozambique, growing in a well drained gritty soil with some water and lots of sun. The stem can grow to fifteen centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to three metres in height. The flowers are yellow.

The genera is named after Euphorbos, the Greek physician of King Juba II of Numidia. The species is named from Latin; declivis; 'slopes' and Latin; cola; 'dwelling' or rather 'living on slopes', as it is found on steep granite hillsides.