Jatropha dioica, commonly known as leatherstem or sangre de drago (not to be confused with the South American tree of the same common name) is a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Plants in this family can be herbs, succulents, bushes, or trees, but are united by having milky, latex-like sap, and cup-shaped flower clusters called cyathia. Jatropha dioica gets the name sangre de drago, or dragon’s blood in English, because its sap turns bright red when exposed to oxygen. During the winter, its stems, which arise from an underground rootstock, can look like an arrangement of sticks stuck in the ground. In the spring and summer, the plant features tiny white or pink flowers. It does best in well-drained, rocky soil, which makes it ideal for our southwestern environment.
