Numerous yellow or yellow-green stem-tip cyathia of Euphorbia burmannii, the sweet milkbush, are present on this Namaqualand bush in August after rain. E. burmannii resembles E. rhombifolia to some extent.

Five broad, flat glands spread around each cyathium or false flower. The upper stems are cylindrical and green in short sections before nodes where blackened remains of leaves or bracts are visible.

The sweet milkbush name is probably related to the popularity of the plants among browsing goats (Frandsen, 2017; Schutte-Vlok, 2010).