Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Prostrate or erect perennial herb from slender woody taproot, herbage and capsules glabrous or hairy; much branched to 25 cm tall.

Leaves: Orbicular to lance-oblong, oblique at base, 1-10 mm long petioles 1-2 mm long; stipules deltoid, .3-.5 mm long, ventral ones united, usually ciliate-margined.

Flowers: Involucres campanulate, 1-1.5 mm wide, lobes narrowly to attenuately deltoid, about equaling the narrow, transversely oblong glands, dark maroon, latter .5-.7 mm long, conspicuous appendages present, white to reddish, equaling or slightly exceeding glands, entire to crentate; bracteoles opposite each gland; staminate flowers 15-32 in each cyathium.

Fruits: Seeds .8-1 mm, fairly smooth but dull.

Ecology: Found on desert slopes and washes from 500-3,000 ft (152-914 m); flowers year round.

Distribution: AZ, CA, NV; south to MEX.

Notes: Stems markedly zig-zag.

Ethnobotany: Poultice of the plant is applied to scorpion and snake bites, roots chewed to promote vomit and loosen bowels for stomach trouble.

Etymology: Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania, polycarpa means having many seeds or fruit.

Synonyms: Chamaesyce polycarpa var. hirtella, Euphorbia polycarpa, Euphorbia polycarpa var. hirtella

Editor: SBuckley, 2010