Fauna
Plant

Officer Spurge

Euphorbia officinarum

Also known as Candelabra Spurge, Moroccan Spurge

Officer spurges form dense, rounded cushions of upright succulent stems adapted to harsh arid landscapes across the North African coast. The prominent vertical ribs bear sharp paired spines that shield small yellow blooms appearing along the ridges during warm weather. Breaking any stem releases a acrid white latex that deters herbivores and prevents moisture loss during prolonged droughts.

SucculentSpinyArid-Adapted
Officer Spurge reference1 / 7
(c) Nadezhda Bortnikova, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nadezhda Bortnikova · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Mineral soil, Rainwater
Predators
  • Scale insects
  • Snails
ThreatsHabitat degradation, overgrazing, illegal plant collecting
HabitatsRocky hillsides, coastal cliffs, arid scrub, desert plains
Life span20–50+ years
Classification
  1. FamilyEuphorbiaceae
  2. SpeciesEuphorbia officinarum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Milky sap causes severe skin burns and eye irritation; avoid touching broken stems.
Why it is dangerous
Produces a caustic milky sap containing diterpene esters that cause painful dermatitis, blistering, and severe eye damage.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by dense, low-growing cushions of fleshy green, four to eight-angled stems covered in sharp paired spines.
What to do
Never handle without protective clothing and eye protection; wash affected skin immediately with soap and water.
Responsible observation
  • Safety First: Avoid touching or breaking stems to prevent painful contact with the caustic milky sap.
  • Observation: Look along the upper stem ridges in late spring for tiny yellow flowering structures.
  • Ecology Note: Observe how dense cushion shapes shield lower stems from scorching desert winds.
Related species
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