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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.

New Mexico Silverbush	Argythamnia neomexicana	Lance-leaf Ditaxis	Argythamnia lanceolata
Herbaceous euphorb with clear sap. Grows in seasonally damp soil along washes and at roadsides. Locally common at various locations in Sonoran Desert. Small male and female flowers are greenish and on the same plant. Detailed Description		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
Saw-toothed Ditaxis	Argythamnia serrata	Bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia (B. incana)
Stiff, sharply serrated leaves. Restricted to Lower Colorado Desert as near Yuma. Sap not milky. 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
Sonoran Silverbush	Argythamnia brandegeei	Cliff Spurge	Euphorbia misera
Uncommon spindly shrub restricted to far southwest Yuma County, Az & n.w. Mex. Whitish branches with dark green leaves. Detailed Description		Not in Arizona. A large shrubby spurge with dark green leaves and thick reddish stems. Coastal Sonora in Mexico and in southern California. Detailed Description

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Limber Bush

Jatropha cardiophylla

Mexican Jumping Bean

Sebastiania bilocularis

Woody shrub leafless much of year until summer rains flush shiny, heart-shaped leaves. Reddish stems long and flexible. Capsule, like other euphorbs, is three parted. Detailed Description

In Arizona this large woody shrub is likely to be found only near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Leaves dark green or red-orange. Capsules are three lobed. Detailed Description

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Hall's shrubby-spurge	Tetracoccus hallii	Sangra-de-drago	Jatropha cuneata
Far western Sonoran Desert. Small spatulate leaves in clusters. Woody shrub with sparse, intricate branches. 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
Three-seeded Mercury	Acalypha californica	Castorbean	Ricinus communis
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		Cultivated plant frequent in gardens, but escaping into riverine habitats in the lower sonoran Desert. Large five-seven pointed leaves. Clusters of spiny fruits. Detailed Description

More Euphorbs on Page 2

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