Euphorbia cerifera

Euphorbia cerifera, also known as candelilla, is a shrub that grows wild in northern Mexico and Texas. This plant is a source of candelilla wax, a hard, yellowish-tan to brown wax that forms a coating on the shrub. Candelilla wax is similar to carnauba wax but is less hard. It is often used as an extender in formulations with other waxes due to its lower cost and ability to blend well. Candelilla wax has found applications in polishes, paints, inks, waterproofing, and carbon paper. The plant belongs to the Euphorbia genus, which is part of the larger spurge family, Euphorbiaceae.123