Euphorbia veneris

Γαλόχορτον, Ευφορβία της αφροδίτης

Etymology of Euphorbia veneris: 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 "veneris" is a tribute to the Cypriot ancient goddess Venus (or Aphrodite), because the species is endemic to Cyprus.

There are at least 32 kinds (species and subspecies) of the Euphorbia genus in the wild Cypriot habitat.

Euphorbia veneris is an uncommon plant in Cyprus, encountered in the central mountainous part, between an altitude of 700-1700 metres. It only exists in Cyprus and it primarily grows on rocky slopes and rocky roadsides. Its flowering period is between February and June.