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 or tree growing to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and broad,[6] with narrow leaves up to 20 cm (8 in) long. In spring it produces brown, honey-scented flowers.[7]
| Euphorbia mellifera | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. mellifera
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| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia mellifera | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Latin specific epithet mellifera means "producing honey".[8]
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6][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
edit- ^ 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..
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Euphorbia mellifera in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
- ^ "Flora de Canarias: Euphorbia_mellifera". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ Bramwell, D.; Bramwell, Z. (2001). Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Madrid, Spain: Editorial Rueda. ISBN 978-84-7207-129-2.
- ^ a b "Euphorbia mellifera". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 38. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families - Euphorbia × pasteurii". Kew Science. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'Phrampton Phatty'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'Roundway Titan'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Euphorbia × pasteurii 'John Phillips'". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
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