Euphorbia amygdaloidesL. Wood spurge

Euphorbia amygdaloidesL. - Wood spurge

Scientific Description:

Pubescent tufted or extensively rhizomatous perennial, flowering stems biennial, to 80 cm. Cauline leaves of first year's growth shortly petiolate, oblanceolate to obovate-oblanceolate or elliptic, (1−)4−11 × 0,7−2,7 cm, apex obtuse or subacute, tapered to base, entire, forming a rosette; second year cauline leaves and ray-leaves sessile, oblong or elliptic to suborbicular, 1−2,5 × 0,3−1,5 cm, apex obtuse, rounded at base. Raylet-leaf “cups” (1−)1.5−2(−2.3) cm across. Rays 5−8, once or twice dichotomous; axillary rays (0−)3−16. Glands long-horned. Fruit trilobate, 3,5 mm diam., smooth. Seeds ovoid, 2 mm, smooth, dark grey, caruncle small, patelliform.

var. amygdaloides

Plant tufted; cauline leaves membranous, dull, often pubescent.

Flowering time: March−August.

Habitat: Fagus L. & Abies L. forest, Carpinus L. woodland, Rhododendron L., Laurus L. and Rubus L. scrub, banks, by springs, 50−2000 m.

Reference:

Radcliffe-Smith A (1982). Euphorbia amygdaloides L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 626.

Public Description:

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. amygdaloides, commonly known as “wood spurge”, is native to woodland locations in Europe, Türkiye and the Caucasus. It is a bushy evergreen perennial plant with green-yellow flowers. It is among the few plants that thrive in the shade of trees, where it is used as groundcover. It has milky latex which is toxic and can cause irritation when in contact with skin.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_amygdaloides, Accessed date: 22.01.2018.

Öztekin M (2012). Euphorbia L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 414-424.