Euphorbia atropurpurea
Dark Purple Spurge
The Dark Purple Spurge (Euphorbia atropurpurea ) is a flowering plant in the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia ) from the family of the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ). Your Spanish name is " Tabaiba majorera ".
Description
Euphorbia atropurpurea is a succulent, loosely dichotomously branched " plume " with stature heights of up to 2 meters. The fleshy branches are club-shaped (ie, at the base thinner than at the end), cinnamon and thickly covered with leaf scars. In dense rosettes at the ends of branches sit sessile, lanceolate leaves that are up to 7.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. After the withering branches remain bare.
The terminal inflorescences appear as 5 - to 15 - rayed umbels, each with three to five secondary rays. The paired, dark purple colored bracts broadly ovate with a diameter of 1 cm or more. The cyathia are very short stalked and short haired. The ever four nectar glands of cyathia are elliptical and vary in color between purple and dark green.
The purple, dreifächrige capsule fruit stands out on a recurved stalk from the cyathium. The seeds are oblong, finely wrinkled and bear appendages ( caruncle ).
The flowering time is in Tenerife from December to May In Germany cultivated as ornamental plants blooming specimens approximately between June and August. Because of the terminal inflorescence, the branches can not grow in length and then branch dichotomously further after flowering.
Origin and ecology
The Dark Purple milkweed is a native to the Canary Island of Tenerife endemic. It grows on rocky, more offshore locations in the succulent shrub at altitudes between 300 and 1200 meters, especially in the south and west of the island.
Others
After the plant of the district Tabaiba of El Rosario was named.
Systematics and possibilities of confusion
The name Euphorbia atropurpurea was invalid first in 1805 by Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet because without diagnostic published. The description was submitted in 1809 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow, so the name was valid.
- Euphorbia atropurpurea Brouss. ex Willd. var atropurpurea is the typical above-described variety.
- Euphorbia atropurpurea var atropurpurea f lutea Santos grows in the Teno region and differs by yellow bracts, and fruits from cyathia.
- Euphorbia atropurpurea var modesta Svent. grows in Tejina Valley and softened by first ( striped) gefärbe purple leaves, smaller bracts, narrowly elliptic nectar glands and very small, tiny spotted fruits from.
Euphorbia × navae Svent. , Named in honor of Alonso de Nava y Grimón, founder of the Jardín de aclimatación de La Orotava, Masca is one occurring in natural hybrid between Euphorbia atropurpurea and Euphorbia regis - jubae Webb & Berth.
Similarly, on the neighboring island of La Gomera endemic Euphorbia bravoana Svent. , But more branched, fleshier leaves and narrower, lanceolate bracts and has smaller inflorescences formed.
Gallery
Euphorbia atropurpurea var atropurpurea, leaf rosette
Euphorbia atropurpurea var atropurpurea, inflorescence
Euphorbia atropurpurea var atropurpurea, fruits
Euphorbia atropurpurea var modesta, initially with purple colored leaves