SafePlants

Sonoran Silverbush (Argythamnia brandegeei)

Considerations for Pets

• The plant belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, some members of which are known to have milky sap that can be irritating.

Considerations for Children

• The plant belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, some members of which are known to have milky sap that can be irritating.

The Sonoran Silverbush, scientifically known as Argythamnia brandegeei Millsp., is also commonly referred to as Sonoran Silverbush.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Argythamnia brandegeei Millsp.
• Common Name: Sonoran Silverbush
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae (Implied from the context of the provided text, stating "Plants (or Plantae) Kingdom")
• Rank: Species
• Variety: Argythamnia brandegeei var. intonsa (I.M. Johnst.) J.W. Ingram ex L.C. Wheeler
• Synonym: Ditaxis brandegeei (Millsp.) Rose &amp Standl.

Distribution and Habitat

• The Sonoran Silverbush is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
• Specifically, it occurs in far southwest Arizona near Yuma and southward into Sonora and Baja California, Mexico.
• Narrowleaf Silverbush (Argythamnia serrata) is found on rocky soils in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub life zone).

Morphological Characteristics

• Argythamnia brandegeei is a tall, few-branched shrub, growing up to 3 meters in height.
• Some individuals are slender, sparsely-branched perennials often 1-2.5 meters tall, sometimes with a woody trunk up to 3 cm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

• The Kumeyaay people ground the seeds and applied them to sores.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It is a forage species for the Sonoran desert tortoise.
• It can serve as a food source for desert mule deer.

Related Species

• Argythamnia serrata (Torrey) Muller Argoviensis, known as New Mexico Silverbush.
• Argythamnia californica Brandeg., known as California Silverbush.
• Argythamnia lanceolata, known as narrowleaf silverbush.
• Ditaxis claryana, known as Desert Silverbush.
• Ditaxis neomexicana, known as New Mexico silverbush.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Argythamnia brandegeei.
• Arizona State University is a resource for information on Ditaxis brandegeei.
• Encyclopedia of Life has a page with information about Argythamnia brandegeei within the context of the Euphorbiaceae family.
• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) provides taxonomic information.