Euphorbia mellifera

Euphorbia mellifera, the Canary spurge[2] or honey spurge,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands.[4][5] It is an evergreen shrub growing to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) or more, with narrow leaves up to 20 cm (8 in) long. In spring it produces brown, honey-scented flowers.[6]

Euphorbia mellifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. mellifera
Binomial name
Euphorbia mellifera
Synonyms
  • Euphorbia longifolia Lam.
  • Euphorbia longifolia var. canariensis (Boiss.) Oudejans
  • Euphorbia mellifera var. canariensis Boiss.
  • Kobiosis mellifera (Aiton) Raf.
  • Tithymalus melliferus (Aiton) Moench

The Latin specific epithet mellifera means "producing honey".[7]

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9] Euphorbia × pasteurii is listed[10] as a hybrid between E. mellifera and E. stygiana. The cultivars ‘Phrampton Phatty',[11] ‘Roundway Titan’[12] and ‘John Phillips’[13] have received the RHS AGM.

Like all euphorbias, this plant contains a milky-white sap, which oozes out of the stems when cut. This can be a skin irritant and is very harmful to the eyes. Gloves should be worn when pruning,

References
  1. Rivers, M.C.; Fernandes, F.; da Silva Menezes de Sequeira, M. (2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 - Euphorbia mellifera. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T102818634A102818638.en..
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. Euphorbia mellifera in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
  4. "Flora de Canarias: Euphorbia_mellifera". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. Bramwell, D.; Bramwell, Z. (2001). Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Madrid, Spain: Editorial Rueda. ISBN 978-84-7207-129-2.
  6. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  7. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  8. "Euphorbia mellifera". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 38. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families - Euphorbia × pasteurii". Kew Science. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'Phrampton Phatty'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'Roundway Titan'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  13. "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'John Phillips'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.


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