Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Spice Inflorescence

Family: EUPHORBIACEAE

Genus: Euphorbia

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Fields, road sides and cultivated fields.

Characteristics: This spurge can be easily recognised because the inflorescences have round bracts at the base, and there are also bracts at the base of the rachis which carry the flowers, there are also very wide bracts, normally five, which altogether form a star or look like a sun. All the leaves have slightly dentate margins. It lives in the fields and along path-sides.