Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia officinarum is a spiny succulent plant about 1–1.5m tall, native to arid environments of Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Algeria. It produces a milky sap that contains various chemical compounds, some of which have potential therapeutic properties. While Euphorbia officinarum has potential medicinal uses, it’s crucial to handle it with caution because the sap can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested. It is not currently known to be naturalized or invasive anywhere in the world.

High Risk Traits:

• Grows and could spread in regions with tropical climates
  
• Broad elevation range
  
• Other Euphorbia species are invasive
  
• Spiny
  
• Unpalatable to browsing/grazing animals
  
• Caustic and toxic latex
  
• Forms dense stands in native range
  
• Reproduces by seed
  
• Dispersed by explosively dehiscent capsules, ants, and intentional cultivation
  
• Gaps in biological and ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but limited evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Grows best in high light (dense shade may limit ability to spread)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively under natural conditions