Euphorbia

A very large and clearly defined genus, Euphorbia contains numerous native plants as well as a larger number of non-natives that we grow in gardens. Some of the non-natives do appear in natural habitats, but none are giving rise to ecological concern at present. All species have flowers in a unique structure, a cyathium, which contains specialized nectar glands, the shape of which is important for identification, and which attracts visiting pollinators, especially flies and ladybirds. The irritant milky sap has several functions, to hold on to water and make many of the species very drought-tolerant, and to deter herbivores. But as always something gets around such defences: if you are very lucky your spurges may be eaten by the huge and dramatically coloured larvae of the spurge hawk-moth.