Euphorbia mellifera
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Species: | E. mellifera
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Euphorbia mellifera |
Euphorbia mellifera (canary spurge,[1] honey spurge syn. Tithymalus melliferus Moench)[2]) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madeira. 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.[3]
The Latin specific epithet mellifera means "producing honey".[4]
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]
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
- ^ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Euphorbia mellifera in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "Euphorbia mellifera". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 26 July 2013.