Euphorbia paralias L.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: EUPHORBIACEAE

Genus: Euphorbia

Catalan common name: Lleteresa de platja. Lleteresa de sorral. Lletrera marítima.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Sandy soils.

Characteristics: This is the beachspurge, since it is specific to one habitat. It has erect stems which only branch out in the inflorescence, covered in rigid, lanceolate, upward pointing leaves. The inflorescence is formed by quite short radii and the capsules are rough. It could be mistaken for Euphorbia pithyusa, but this is recognisable because the dry leaves at the bottom of the stems are downward pointing, moreover it is a smaller, branched plant, and the capsule is not rough. It flowers at the end of spring and in summer.