Sonoran Desert Naturalist >>> Field Guide >>> Sonoran Desert Flora >>> Euphorbiaceae

Sonoran Desert Euphorbia

Many species of herbs, shrubs and small trees. Sap often milky or resinous. Leaves typically dark green and often red after cold snaps. Complex flower structure; frequently without true petals and with numerous small flowers grouped in an involucre.

Lance-leaf Ditaxis

Argythamnia lanceolata

Bernardia

Bernardia myricifolia (B. incana)

Frequent, but rather obscure sub-shrub of rocky slopes across the Sonoran Desert. Leaves are silvery as are the three-carpelled fruit capsules. Rarely taller than 50 cm tall. Detailed Description

This woody shrub is fairly common if the naturalist knows where to look: Shady slopes near the summit of low desert mountains and ridges. Small leaves are crenulate. Sap is not milky/resinous. Capsules are three lobed. Detailed Description

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Rattlesnake Weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	Yuma Sandmat	Chamaesyce setiloba
Grows prostrate on ground. Copious white sap from broken stems. Involucre has petaloid appendages and surrounds a group of minute flowers. Seed capsule, like other euphorbs, is three parted. Detailed Description		Growing mostly in deep sandy soil. Appendages of minute involucres with narrow, pointed lobes. Copious white sap from broken stems. Image is hosted at Wikimedia. Detailed Description
Small-seed Sandmat	Chamaesyce polycarpa	Hyssop Spurge	Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
A common weed of sidewalks and xeriscape gardens in the Sonoran Desert. Grows prostrate on ground. Copious white sap from broken stems. Involucre and flowers are very small as are the seed capsules. The image hosted at Wikimedia. Detailed Description		This species grows mostly upright and is a fairly common urban weed in the Sonoran Desert such as in Phoenix or Tucson. Copious white sap from broken stems. The image is hosted at Wikimedia. Detailed Description

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Chiricahua Sandmat	Chamaesyce florida	Sangra-de-drago	Jatropha cuneata
Small annual of summer and fall with relatively large petal-like appendages. Grows upright and has linear leaves baring minute teeth. Detailed Description		The best place to find this wonderful plant is at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. Leafless after drought or frosty weather. Irritating, resinous sap oozes from injuries. Capsules are three lobed. Detailed Description
Saw-toothed Ditaxis	Argythamnia serrata	Three-seeded Mercury	Acalypha californica
Stiff, sharply serrated leaves. Restricted to Lower Colorado Desert as near Yuma. Sap not milky. Detailed Description		Restricted to the warmer, mostly frost-free areas as near Yuma and at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Sap not milky. Leaf margins crenulate. Detailed Description

Sonoran Desert Places