Mexican Fire Plant
Euphorbia heterophylla
Madera Canyon, Sta. Rita Mts., Arizona, USA. 10 September 2010.
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FLOWERS: Complex
inflorescence with minute male and slightly larger female flowers clustered in a cup-like structure. The fruits soon enlarge after pollination.
The leaves just below the flowers might show some red, pink, white or plane green.
LEAVES: The elongate leaves are tapered at both ends. White sap emerges from broken
leaves and stems. Upper surface greens and lower with many whitish hairs.
ANNUAL: May germinate in late spring if winter rains have been good, otherwise growth begins after start of summer rains. Most plants
are less than 40 cm tall.
RANGE: Rocky soil, often in the shade of riparian trees or on partially shaded cliff
faces.
FRUIT: A smooth capsule with three lobes. One seed in each capsule.
UNARMED
Euphorbiaceae -- Spurge Family
More Information:
- Southwest Environmental Information Network
- USDA Plant Profile
- ITIS Taxonomic Report
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search