General: Horned Spurge (Euphorbia brachycera) is a low-growing, mounded perennial forb with an angular branching pattern and paired oval leaves without petioles. What appears to be four flower petals are actually fused glands, but a single, stalked pistillate flower emerges from the center of the glands. Staminate flowers are clustered around the pistillate flower. Seed pods have three chambers. The glands are yellow and horned.

Horned Spurge is an uncommon component of vegetation communities in dry, well-drained gravelly areas on upper bajadas into the mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland), Transition (Yellow Pine Forest), and Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, look for Horned Spurge in the mountains (Spring Range, Sheep Range), and farther east at lower elevations.

Family: Spurge (Euphorbiacea)