Species
Euphorbia amygdaloides
Etymology
Euphorbia: after Euphorbus, a Greek physician who served King Juba of Numidia in 12BC. Juba named a cactus to honour Euphorbus and later Linnaeus named the entire genus after the physician.
amygdaloides: Meaning 'resembling the genus Amygdalus'. The derivation of Amygdalus is uncertain, it could be from the Greek amygdalus 'almond' or from amysso 'to lacerate' in reference to the fissures in the seed. Some believe the name to be derived from the Hebrew word for vigilant, referring to the almonds early blooming.
amygdaloides: resembling almonds
Common Name(s)
wood spurge
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Flower Colours
Yellow
Year Naturalised
1992
Origin
C., S. and N.W. Europe, extending to Ukraine, Asia Minor, and N. Iran.
This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010