"In all these varieties the Euphorbia pulcherrima differs as to toughness, in some specimens it is quite glabrous except near the sheath; in others it is strongly & even tuberculous scabrous in lines throughout. The name purpurea is not well chosen as the flowers are as often green or straw color as purple. Aurelia Scheidiana, Frin & Purpr. Stap, p. 120. Cooks Spring; New Mexico, Nov. 1851, Bigelow; Wright Nos 2009 - 2010 - 2011 & No 745 col of 1848. The older specimens accord with Fraxinus. The characters of Frin & Purpr. In the young plant the sheaths are hairy at the throat & sometimes have a pilose zone at the junction with the laminae. The long branches of the panicules are strongly compressed with the edges roughened upwards, the lower ones sometimes 6 inches long erect, spreading or arm refracted, somewhat swollen at the point of junction with the axis. Lower pulcherrima purple marked with black spots, attenuate above into a twisted minutely scabrous style 6"-7" long terminated by 3 very unequal arms, the central of which is about 5" long & slightly divaricate; the lateral 1/2 a line long & erect. In some specimens the lateral arms are scarcely perceptible without the aid of a glass. Calices bearded with conspicuous white hairs.