The folk generic term me:me:ya (or its equivalent) is applied to the Chamaescyce genus although speakers may use qualifying terms to distinguish subgroups comprising various species. The major distinctions noted are between species that grow tall (wekapania) vs. those that grow close to the ground (nosowa) and between species with red stems (chi:chi:ltik) and those that don't (often not marked with any qualifying terms, those sometimes called ista:k). The Chamaescyce are noted for their milky sap characteristic of the Euphorbiaceae and which gives origin to the Nahuatl name me:me:ya, from Nahuatl me:ya 'to flow or spring forth (e.g., water from a well).' The final /h/ in Tetelcingo me:me:yah is apparently not consistently present. Consultants all mentioned that when one walks across of field of me:me:ya the plants break beneath ones feet, leaving their milky, sticky sap. The me:me:ya have little utilitarian or economic value. They are seldom eaten by grazing animals although Inocencio Díaz (Am) mentioned that this dos occur whether there is a marked shortage of wild fodder.