Euphorbia balsamifera

Balsam spurge, La Palma

The balsam spurge (Euphorbia balsamifera ) (Spanish for " Tabaiba dulce " ) is a plant of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia ) in the family of Euphorbiaceae ( Euphorbiaceae ). It is a characteristic element of the coastal zone of the Canary Islands.

Features

The balsam spurge is a highly branched, halbsukkulenter shrub that can reach a height of 5 m. It can also be a short trunk are formed that habit is often hemispherical or nearly spherical. In wind-exposed sites, the shrubs are often more or less pressed to the floor. The branches is strongly colored and gray, covered with transverse seated leaf scars. The leaves are linear - lanceolate and measure 8 x 0.8 cm. The leaves sit at the growing tips pushed schopfig. The leaves are gray-green, the upper, smaller leaves light green. In dry seasons, the leaves are dropped. At the drive end sits a single cyathium (even with short stem ) with five reddish-brown or yellowish, broadly elliptical nectar glands. The cyathium measures 6 mm in diameter. The seed capsule is 1 cm in diameter, reddish and hairy. The seeds have a smooth surface and are nearly spherical (3 x 2.8 mm).

The white milky sap is considered non-toxic.

Locations and distribution

The subspecies Euphorbia balsamifera subsp. balsamifera occurs in the Canary Islands and West Africa (Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger). In the Canary Islands it is one of the characteristic species of the coastal zone. They form in this zone often larger stocks. The occurrence of the subspecies Euphorbia balsamifera subsp. adenensis extends from Sudan to the south of the Arabian Peninsula. You get there before in rocky, lime or gypsum-bearing soils that are overgrown with low bushes. It grows to 900 to 1550 m altitude. The bushes are about 1 m in height significantly smaller. The leaves are smaller and have a slightly different shape ( obovate ).