Γαλατόχορτον, Γαλόχορτον, Ευφορβία η πέπλος
Etymology of Euphorbia peplus: 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. The epithet "peplus" derives from the Ancient Greek "πέπλος", meaning "veil". It is an epithet given to the species by Dioscorides, referring to the habit of the plant's leaves spreading above the ground like a veil.
There are at least 32 kinds (species and subspecies) of the Euphorbia genus in the wild Cypriot habitat.
Euphorbia peplus is one of the common Euphorbias that can be found in Cyprus. It can be found all around Cyprus except in the central part, which is known as the Mesaoria region and not beyond altitudes exceeding 600 metres. It primarily grows in gardens, flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, heaps of earth, and wasteland. Its flowering period is between January and November.
