Taxon Report

Euphorbia arizonica Engelm.

Arizona spurge

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Euphorbia arizonica, commonly known as Arizona spurge, is a perennial herb in the Euphorbiaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 50 to 300 meters. Euphorbia arizonica is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Euphorbia arizonica Engelm.
Common Name:	Arizona spurge
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Element Code:	PDEUP0D060
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:	Chamaesyce arizonica (Engelm.) Arthur

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Mar-Apr	Mar-Apr
Elevation:	50-300 (165-985)
General Habitats:	Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	10
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	2
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Riverside (RIV), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Borrego Palm Canyon (3311634), Carrizo Mtn. (3211671), Cathedral City (3311674), Clark Lake NE (3311643), Collins Valley (3311644), East Deception Canyon (3311683), Myoma (3311673), Palm Springs (3311675), Palm View Peak (3311665), Seven Palms Valley (3311684), Sweeney Pass (3211672), Tubb Canyon (3311624)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	10 %
Foot traffic/trampling	1	10%

Notes



Undocumented in IMP Co.; need quads. See Report of the United States and Mexican Boundary, Botany 2(1):186 (1859) for original description, Madroño 32(3):187-189 (1985) for alternative nomenclature, and Taxon 55:397-420 (2006) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 November 2025].