Chiricahua milk spurge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chiricahua milk spurge |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Euphorbia
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| Species: |
florida
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Euphorbia florida, also known as the Chiricahua milk spurge or Chiricahua Mountain sandmat, is a small plant that grows for only one year. It belongs to the spurge family, which is called Euphorbiaceae. You can find this plant in the Sonoran Desert, especially in the mountains of southern Arizona and the northwestern parts of Mexico.
Contents
What is the Chiricahua Milk Spurge?
The Chiricahua milk spurge is an annual plant. This means it completes its whole life cycle – from seed to flower to making new seeds – within a single year. After it produces seeds, the plant dies. This plant gets its name "milk spurge" because, like many plants in the spurge family, it produces a milky white sap when its stem or leaves are broken. This sap is called latex.
Where Does it Grow?
This special plant lives in the Sonoran Desert. This desert is a very hot and dry place, but it also has mountains. The Chiricahua milk spurge grows specifically in the mountain areas of this desert. You can find it in:
- Southern Arizona, in the United States
- Northwestern Mexico, including the state of Sonora
The name "Chiricahua" comes from the Chiricahua Mountains, which are located in southeastern Arizona. This tells us that the plant is often found in or near these mountains.
The Spurge Family
Euphorbia florida is part of a very large plant family called Euphorbiaceae, or the spurge family. This family has many different kinds of plants, from small herbs like the Chiricahua milk spurge to large trees. Many plants in this family are known for having that milky sap.
Images for kids
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A close-up view of the Chiricahua milk spurge.
See also
In Spanish: Euphorbia florida para niños
