Euphorbia glauca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Euphorbia glauca |
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| Euphorbia glauca at Punakaiki | |
| Conservation status | |
 Serious Decline (NZ TCS) |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Euphorbia
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| Species: |
glauca
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Euphorbia glauca, often called waiūatua, waiū-o-Kahukura, New Zealand sea spurge, or shore spurge, is a special plant found only along the coasts of New Zealand. Sadly, this plant is becoming rarer.
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What Does Waiūatua Look Like?
The waiūatua plant is a type of herb that lives for many years. It has several reddish stems that grow straight up, reaching about 1 metre (around 3 feet) tall. Its leaves are a pretty blue-green colour.
This plant usually blooms with flowers between September and March. Sometimes, it might flower at other times too! The flowers grow at the very top of the stems. Each tiny flower has a deep red cup around it. After flowering, the plant produces fruit from December to May. Be careful though, the plant makes a milky sap that can be irritating if it touches your skin.
Where Does Waiūatua Live?
This unique plant is found only in New Zealand. It likes to grow in coastal areas. You can spot it on cliffs by the sea, on sand dunes, along banks and slopes, and even on rocky lake shores.
However, the waiūatua plant faces many dangers. Animals like pigs, cows, and sheep can eat it. Possums are also a threat. The places where it grows can be damaged by things like road building or natural erosion. A type of fungus has also caused problems for these plants, especially on the West Coast of the South Island.
How Can We Grow Waiūatua?
The seeds of the waiūatua plant are spread naturally by wind and water. This helps new plants grow in different places.
People can also help the plant grow. It can be started from its seeds, from cuttings (small pieces of the plant), or by dividing an existing plant. Nurseries often grow waiūatua. It grows best in sunny spots with soil that drains water well.
The waiūatua plant is listed as being in Decline by the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This means its numbers are going down. However, the total number of plants can change a lot from year to year.
Images for kids
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Euphorbia glauca at Punakaiki
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Flowers of the waiūatua plant
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An illustration of Euphorbia glauca by Sydney Parkinson
See also
In Spanish: Euphorbia glauca para niños
