Euphorbia mellifera

Euphorbia mellifera
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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 Aiton
Synonyms
Euphorbia longifolia Lam. Euphorbia longifolia var. canariensis (Boiss.) Oudejans Euphorbia mellifera var. canariensis Boiss. Kobiosis mellifera (Aiton) Raf. Tithymalus melliferus (Aiton) Moench

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]

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

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 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. 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. "Euphorbia mellifera". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
7. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
8. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
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.