10. The Tree Spurge

One of the most familiar plants in garrigue countryside are the spurges. We have several spurge species in Malta, the largest of which is the tree spurge, hence its name. The tree spurge (M: tenghud tas-sigra) is a lovely sight at this time of the year. It is a medium shrub that takes the shape of a neat hemisphere of green leaves and yellow flowers. It grows on slopy garrigue ground and in places can become the dominant shrub. Later on in the year the seeds shoot off with a flick, the leaves go red-brown and then fall off, leaving a dormant white skeleton of twigs dreaming of a new explosion of colour with which to surprise us next spring!

Text and photo Victor Falzon.
  Copyright to Birdlife Malta.