Sea spurge
Euphorbia paralias
Family: Euphorbiaceae
What it is like
A small herb. It has several stems and is erect. It keeps growing from year to year. It is smooth and bluish-green. It grows to 40 cm high. The leaves are crowded and overlapping. They are 1.5-3 cm long. They are hidden in oval, green, leaf-like bracts. The flowers are yellow and in clusters. They are at the ends of branches. The fruit is a grooved capsule.
There are about 2000 Euphorbia species. Most Euphorbias have sap which irritates the skin.
Where it is found
A warm temperate plant. It grows along coastlines above the shore and also occurs further inland. It can grow to 100 m altitude on sand dunes. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Albania, America, Australia, Balkans, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
Caution: All Euphorbias or spurges have irritating sap and many have chemicals that can cause cancer.
Edible parts
Caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Obalni mleček