Euphorbia balsamifera

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Euphorbia balsamifera
Euphorbia balsamifera (Garafia) 01.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Tribe: Euphorbieae
Subtribe: Euphorbiinae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. balsamifera
Binomial name
Euphorbia balsamifera

Euphorbia balsamifera (balsam spurge) is a flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It is distributed in the Canary Islands and the western Sahara. It is the vegetable symbol of the island of Lanzarote. [2] Euphorbia adenensis has been treated as a subspecies of this species.

Contents

Description

The plant varies greatly in height. It can be described both as a low shrub or as a small tree from 2–5 meters tall. The stems are up to 15 cm in diameter, semisucculent without spines, covered with transverse leaf-scars. The color of the stem varies from gray to terra-cotta. It is branched from the base, the older parts gradually becoming knotty and very thick. The leaves are 80 millimeters long and 4–8 millimeters wide clustered at the tips of the stems. They are green and glaucous, sessile, varying in shape from linear-lanceolate to ovate. The inflorescences are terminal cymes, usually reduced to a single semi-sessile 6 millimeters wide cyathium at the tip of each stem. The color of pseudo-petals is yellowish green. The fruit of the plant is a green large capsule 10 millimeters long and 9 millimeters wide, pinkish-reddish-green when ripened. It is shallowly lobed, smooth or hairy and semi-sessile. [3] :210

Subspecies

Two subspecies have been distinguished, but Euphoria balsamifera subsp. adenensis is now accepted as a separate species, Euphorbia adenensis . [4]

Distribution and habitat

Euphorbia balsamifera is native to the Canary Islands, western Morocco and Western Sahara. [5]

The tree grows 800 meters above sea level in dense communities on rocky grounds and sandy dunes (except for extremely mobile dunes) in plains among other succulent plants.[ citation needed ]

Uses

Milky latex of Euphorbia balsamifera is poisonous like in other Euphorbia species, but it is not so caustic. In Morocco, it is widely used[ where? ] in dentistry as anesthesia for acute dental pulpitis treatment. [6]

The leaves were gathered and cooked as a green vegetable in the Canary Islands. [7]

As most other succulent members of the genus Euphorbia, its trade is regulated under Appendix II of CITES. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Euphorbia is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae, not just to members of the genus.

<i>Euphorbia mellifera</i> Species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia mellifera, the Canary spurge or honey spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madeira and the Canary Islands. It is an evergreen shrub or tree growing to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and broad, with narrow leaves up to 20 cm (8 in) long. In spring it produces brown, honey-scented flowers.

<i>Euphorbia esula</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia esula, commonly known as green spurge or leafy spurge, is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe, and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia. It can also be found in some parts of Alaska.

<i>Aeonium</i> Genus of succulents

Aeonium, the tree houseleeks, is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae. Many species are popular in horticulture. The genus name comes from the ancient Greek αἰώνιος / aiōnios (ageless). While most of them are native to the Canary Islands, some are found in Madeira, Cape Verde, Morocco, in East Africa and Yemen.

<i>Euphorbia tithymaloides</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia tithymaloides is a perennial succulent spurge. An erect shrub, the plant is also known by the scientific name Pedilanthus tithymaloides. However, the genus Pedilanthus has been subsumed into the genus Euphorbia, and is more correctly known by its new name.

<i>Euphorbia resinifera</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia resinifera, the resin spurge, is a species of spurge native to Morocco, where it occurs on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains. The dried latex of the plant was used in ancient medicine. It contains resiniferatoxin, an extremely potent capsaicin analog tested as an analgesic since 1997.

<i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> Species of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae

Juniperus phoenicea, the Phoenicean juniper or Arâr, is a juniper found throughout the Mediterranean region.

<i>Euphorbia atropurpurea</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia atropurpurea, called tabaiba majorera or tabaiba roja in Spanish, is a shrub in the family Euphorbiaceae native to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It can reach 2 metres in height, and grows in ravines, and on slopes and terraces.

<i>Euphorbia bourgaeana</i> Flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia bourgaeana is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

<i>Euphorbia arbuscula</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia arbuscula is a species of plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It is endemic to the archipelago of Socotra in Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

<i>Euphorbia misera</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia misera is a semi-succulent shrub in the genus Euphorbia commonly known as the cliff spurge or coast spurge. A drought-deciduous shrub, it is typically found as a gnarled, straggly plant occupying seashore bluffs, hills and deserts. Like other members of its genus, it has a milky sap, which can be found exuding out of the light gray bark when damaged. The alternately-arranged leaves are round and folded in the middle, with small hairs on them. The "flowers" can be found blooming year-round, and are colored maroon or yellow in the center with 5 white to light-yellow petal-like appendages attached outside. This species is native to the Baja California peninsula and Sonora in Mexico, and the coast of southern California in the United States, where it is a rare species. It is threatened in some localities by the development of its coastal habitat, which tends to be prime locations for high-end residential and commercial developments.

<i>Euphorbia canariensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia canariensis, commonly known as the Canary Island spurge, Hercules club or in Spanish cardón, is a succulent member of the genus Euphorbia and family Euphorbiaceae endemic to the Canary Islands. It is the plant symbol of the island of Gran Canaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euphorbiaceae</span> Family of Eudicot flowering plants

Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of the type genus of the family. Most spurges, such as Euphorbia paralias, are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are shrubs or trees, such as Hevea brasiliensis. Some, such as Euphorbia canariensis, are succulent and resemble cacti because of convergent evolution. This family has a cosmopolitan global distribution. The greatest diversity of species is in the tropics; however, the Euphorbiaceae also have many species in nontropical areas of all continents except Antarctica.

<i>Euphorbia royleana</i> Species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia royleana is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is also known as Sullu spurge, and Royle's spurge. It is a succulent and almost cactus like in appearance although unrelated. It grows right across the Himalaya mountains from Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal to western China, It prefers dry and rocky slopes between 1000 and 1500 meters, but has been found up to 2000 meters. Flowering and fruiting is in spring to early summer (March–July) and seeding is in June–October. It is used as a hedging plant in northern India and has medicinal uses.

<i>Euphorbia psammogeton</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia psammogeton, commonly known as sand spurge, is a flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. The specific epithet derives from the Greek psammos (“sand”) and geiton (“neighbour”), alluding to the typical habitat.

<i>Euphorbia aphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia aphylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to the Canary Islands. It was first described in 1809.

<i>Euphorbia lamarckii</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia lamarckii is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to the western Canary Islands. It resembles Euphorbia regis-jubae, with which it has been confused. Both have been called Euphorbia obtusifolia.

<i>Helianthemum canariense</i> Species of flowering plant

Helianthemum canariense is a species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, native to Western Sahara, Morocco and the Canary Islands.

The scientific name Euphorbia obtusifolia has been used for at least three species of Euphorbia:

<i>Euphorbia regis-jubae</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia regis-jubae is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to the eastern Canary Islands, western Morocco, north-western Western Sahara. In Spanish, it is known as tabaiba morisca. It has often been confused with Euphorbia lamarckii.

References

  1. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. "Símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias" [Natural Symbols for the Canary Islands]. Ley No. 7/1991 of 30 April 1991 (in Spanish). Vol. 151. pp. 20946–20497 via BOE.
  3. Bramwell, D.; Bramwell, Z. (2001). Wild flowers of the Canary Islands. Madrid, Spain: Editorial Rueda. ISBN   978-84-7207-129-2.
  4. "Euphorbia adenensis Deflers". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  5. "Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  6. "Morocco.com | Morocco's Fascinating Flora". Morocco.com. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  7. G. Miller, Anthony; Morris, Miranda (1988). Plants of Dhofar. Oman: The Sultanate of Oman. p. 138. ISBN   978-071570808-8.
  8. "Species+" . Retrieved 7 February 2023.