RHH's photos with the keyword: euphorbia

Candelilla, the Wax Plant and a member of the Euphorbia family, has a long history in Big Bend National Park. Its waxy coating was harvested by poor Mexicans who crossed the border into the park illegally and to whom park officials often turned a blind eye. That industry has declined in Big Bend but the wax is still harvested in parts of Mexico for use in the cosmetics and food industries. The plant has also been used to treat sexually transmitted diseases as its species name indicates.