Euphorbia regis-jubae

Appearance

''Euphorbia regis-jubae'' is a shrub, up to 2 m tall. It has light brown stems and terminal rosettes of leaves that are narrow and oblong, with a pointed or somewhat blunt apex. The inflorescences are pedunculate, umbel-like, usually simple with five to eight rays, more rarely compound. The greenish-yellow floral bracts are large, not joined at the base, and persist when the fruit has formed. The fruit capsules are light brown or red. The seeds have a stalked elaiosome .

Distribution

''Euphorbia regis-jubae'' is native to the eastern Canary Islands – Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, western Morocco and north-western Western Sahara. Its distribution differs from that of ''E. lamarckii'', with which it has often been confused; ''E. lamarckii'' is found in the western Canary Islands – Tenerife, north-western La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.