Euphorbia misera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Euphorbia misera
Scientific classification
Genus:	Euphorbia
Species:	misera

Euphorbia misera, also known as cliff spurge, is a unique plant found in Western North America. It belongs to the spurge family of plants.

Where Cliff Spurge Grows

This interesting plant is native to two main areas: Southern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.

You can find it in the Colorado Desert, which is part of the larger Sonoran Desert. It also likes to grow along the coastline and on the southern Channel Islands off the coast of California. In Mexico, it lives in the Sonoran Desert and along the coast of Baja California.

What Cliff Spurge Looks Like

Euphorbia misera is a shrub that usually stands about 0.5–1 metre (1.6–3.3 ft) (about 1.5 to 3 feet) tall. It has small, round leaves that feel a bit fuzzy.

Its Unique Flowers

The flowers of the cliff spurge are quite special! They grow in clusters called inflorescences at the ends of the branches. Each flower is fuzzy and a bit sticky.

In the center of the flower, there's a part that produces nectar, a sweet liquid that attracts insects. This part has a bright red piece with wavy edges and a light yellow fringe. The female part of the flower (called the pistil) sticks out and splits at the tip. The male parts, called anthers, are bright yellow.

Fruits and Seeds

After the flowers bloom, they turn into a round, bumpy fruit. This fruit is like a small capsule with different sections inside. Each section holds round, wrinkled gray seeds.

Images for kids

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  Euphorbia misera growing at Cabrillo National Monument with the San Diego Bay in the background

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  Cyanthia growing out of axils, with the foliage and characteristic gnarled gray stems

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  The developing fruit, note the small hairs

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  The inflorescences and folded leaves

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  Cyanthia with developing fruits and foliage

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  The semi-succulent stems and gray bark

See also

In Spanish: Euphorbia misera para niños