Euphorbia

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/euphorbia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How tall is Euphorbia?Species like Euphorbia ampliphylla can exceed 30 meters (98 feet)
2. What is the scientific name?Euphorbia
3. What is the habitat?Cosmopolitan distribution, thriving in deserts, temperate zones, and tropical regions worldwide
4. What is Euphorbia and why does it have so many species?Euphorbia is a plant family with more than 2,000 different kinds. They can be tiny herbs or huge trees, and all of them have a milky sap.
5. Why does Euphorbia have a milky sap?The milky sap is a defense. It hurts animals that try to eat the plant and it seals cuts so the plant stays healthy.

Inflorescence: The arrangement of flowers on a plant, or the complete flower head of a plant.
Bract: A modified leaf associated with a flower or inflorescence, often brightly colored.
Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages.
CAM Photosynthesis: A type of photosynthesis where stomata open at night to conserve water in arid environments.