This member of the Euphorbiaceae family was described twice by Nicholas Edward Brown in 1911. The second time as Monadenium majus.
It is found in Somalia and Ethiopia, growing in grit or a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The flowers are green to pink.
The genera name from the Greek monos; 'one' and -aden; 'gland', referring to the solitary gland.
The species name means 'becoming red'.

