Ditaxis neomexicana
Common ditaxis
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Ditaxis neomexicana (Common ditaxis) is a native California herb in the Euphorbiaceae family, recognized by entire to faintly toothed margins and small size are key features.
Common ditaxis is a native perennial found at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert in creosote-bush scrub slopes below 1,000 meters elevation. Flowering from March to December, this plant produces small flowers with pale petals approximately 2 millimeters long. Growing with stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall that are densely covered in appressed white hairs, it forms a compact herb with delicate branching. Its lanceolate leaves range from 1 to 3.5 centimeters long, with entire to faintly toothed edges and a slightly hairy surface. The fruit is a small capsule 3 to 4 millimeters long, containing angular, pitted seeds about 2 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; entire to faintly toothed margins and small size are key features
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Ditaxis neomexicana blooms Mar-Dec.
How to tell it apart
vs Ricinus: Ditaxis has small flowers with petals; castor bean has petalless flowers and huge leaves.; vs Croton: Ditaxis flowers have visible petals; Croton flowers completely lack petals.; vs Bernardia: Ditaxis has petals on flowers; Bernardia flowers are petalless.; vs Acalypha: Ditaxis has petaled flowers; Acalypha flowers lack petals entirely.; vs Triadica: Ditaxis is small desert herb with petals; Triadica is tree with petalless flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ditaxis neomexicana native to California?
Yes. Ditaxis neomexicana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ditaxis neomexicana bloom?
Ditaxis neomexicana blooms Mar-Dec.
Where in California does Ditaxis neomexicana grow?
Ditaxis neomexicana occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Ditaxis neomexicana belong to?
Ditaxis neomexicana is in the Euphorbiaceae family, genus Ditaxis.
What habitat does Ditaxis neomexicana grow in?
Ditaxis neomexicana grows in Slopes, creosote-bush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.