This erect, native annual grows up to 1 foot tall; the stems contain a milky juice. The mostly alternate leaves are highly variable. Some are long and narrow as shown in (B), but they often are broader and deeply lobed or fiddle-shaped. Upper leaves, often with bright red or yellowish blotches near the base, surround several inconspicuous floral cups (cyathia) typical of the spurges (A). Each cup holds 1 female and 30-50 yellow male flowers. The fruit is a rounded 3-lobed capsule which projects beyond the rim of the cup.
Woodlands, roadsides, disturbed areas, flowering from June through September. At Neale Woods this plant is rare. Single plants have been seen on Nebraska Trail and in Jonas Valley.
When present, the red leaf color is diagnostic. Toothed Spurge (Euphorbia davidii) has pale white upper leaf bases and its leaves are mostly opposite.
This plant is closely related to Euphorbia pulcherrima, the familiar Christmas poinsettia, hence the alternate common name, Wild Poinsettia. Another common name is Painted Leaf.
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