Euphorbia viminea
Its stems are cylindrical, slender, and jointed, growing in an erect or spreading habit. They are ash-gray to light brown in color. Unlike most plants, a significant portion of photosynthesis occurs in the young green stems rather than in leaves.
The leaves are extremely small, linear, and ephemeral. They emerge briefly following rainfall and are shed almost immediately thereafter to minimize water loss through transpiration.
Like nearly all species in the genus Euphorbia, it contains a sticky white latex that is toxic and irritating — serving as a highly effective chemical defense mechanism against herbivores such as land iguanas and giant tortoises, which learn to avoid this plant in their natural habitat.
