Stats

Lifespan

5-10 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Mediterranean shrubland

Range

Mediterranean Basin

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

This evergreen shrub grows in compact, upright clusters across rocky Mediterranean hills. It secretes a thick, milky white sap that acts as a potent irritant to deter hungry herbivores.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Malpighiales

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Genus

Euphorbia

Species

Euphorbia characias