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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
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 | |
| |
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
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