Euphorbia antisyphilitica Chihuahuan Candelilla

Euphorbia antisyphilitica has clusters of thin, upright, pencil-like stems. Flowers are small, pinkish in the center and becoming cream farther out. Stems are covered with a high quality wax—the plants have been greatly over harvested in Mexico for this wax. Euphorbia antisyphilitica requires little water, full sun and is frost sensitive. The white sap may be irritating; if the latex gets on your fingers, wash thoroughly before rubbing eyes. Euphorbia antisyphilitica has common names such as "little candle", referring to the appearance of the stems; the scientific name comes from the folk lore that the plant is effective for treatment of venereal disease.