Γαλατόχορτον, Γαλόχορτον, Φλόμος, Ευφορβία η ηλιοσκόπος υποείδος η ηλιοσκόπος
Etymology of Euphorbia helioscopia subspecies helioscopia: The genus was named for "Euphorbus", a Greek physician to Juba II - King of Mauretania of Numibia. In 12 BC, Juba named a species of this genus after his physician. Euphorbus's name derives from "εὖ" [ev], meaning "good, correctly" and "φορβή" [forvi], meaning "food", thus giving the meaning somehow "provides a good meal from consumption". Euphorbus name's etymology has probably nothing to do with the naming of that Euphorbia species as the genus's plants are poisonous and non-edible. In 1753, Carolus Linnaeus, the great taxonomist, assigned the name Euphorbia, to the entire genus. Female ''helioscopia" derives from the Ancient Greek compound word "ἡλιοσκόπος" [helioskopos], meaning "observer of the sun". It is a name given to it by Dioscorides because of the plant's habit to turn towards the sun.
There are at least 32 kinds (species and subspecies) of the Euphorbia genus in the wild Cypriot habitat.
Poisonous Euphorbia helioscopia subspecies helioscopia is one of the popular kinds of Euphorbia in Cyprus. It is encountered all around the island up to an altitude of 1125 metres, excluding the southeastern region of Cyprus. It primarily grows in gardens, roadsides, phrygana, and cultivated fields - in general in habitats disturbed by human activity. Its flowering period is lengthy, it begins in January and ends around June.
