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Wild Weed Gallery

Euphorbia - Sandmat

The flower parts of the Euphorbiaceae family are complex. What looks like a flower petal is made up of the nectar gland and the gland appendage.  The nectar glands attract and reward insects to pollinate.  From the center of the "flower" a single, 3 lobed pod grows out on a stem.  Be careful.  Many Euphorbs have a milky sap that can irritate your skin.

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 22** Scientific Name

Flowers" are about 1/16" wide.  The green nectar glands have an appendage of white fringe.  The green glands turn reddish-brown with age.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower.  Longest leaves are about 3/8" long.  Fuzzy leaves are very thick.  Sprawling plant grows to about 8" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004 & May 2005

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

possible  Hoary Sandmat Chamaesyce lata

hairy leaves (Native of Texas)

These pictures may be of two varieties.  One redder than the other.  Or it is a seasonal change.

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 23** Scientific Name

Green nectar glands have no white fringe and turn bright red with age.  They are about 1/16" wide.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower.  Pods have indented sides and red stripes.  Longest leaves are about 3/8" long.  Smooth leaves are thick and edges are sometimes red.  Stems are red.  Sprawling plant grows to about 8" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2005

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

not  Whitemargin Sandmat Chamaesyce albomarginata

Wide thin leaves.  Large "flowers".

(Native of Texas)

not  Fendler's Sandmat Chamaesyce fendleri

Long nectar glands.  Red stem & leaf margin

(Native of Texas)

not  Geyer's Sandmat Chamaesyce geyeri

Leaves space far apart, in pairs.  Small "flowers" on short stems?

(Native of Texas)

?  Prairie Sandmat Chamaesyce missurica

long leaves

(Native of Texas)

?  Eyebane Chamaesyce nutans

red stem

(Native of Texas)

?  Thymeleaf Sandmat Chamaesyce serpyllifolia

(Native of Texas)

?  Yuma Sandmat Chamaesyce setiloba

red fruit ?

(Native of Texas)

?  Wormseed Sandmat Chamaesyce vermiculata

(Native of USA, not of Texas)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 26** Scientific Name

"Flowers" are about 1/32" wide and clustered down the stem.  The "petals" are pale pink with white edges.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower and is sometimes pink.  Longest leaves are in the middle of the stem and are about 3/8" long.  Overlapping, smooth leaves are thin.  Stem looses leaves near base.  Sprawling plant grows to about 14" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

possible Prostrate Sandmat (Groundfig Spurge, Milk Spurge) Chamaesyce prostrata (Euphorbia prostrata)

(Introduced)

possible Matted Sandmat (Creeping Spurge, Round-leaved Spurge) Chamaesyce serpens

Euphorbia serpens can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: stems and leaves glabrous; leaves gray-green, very small, entire, and opposite; stipules united into a triangular scale-like structure often lobed or fringed at the tip; and involucres with rather conspicuous white petal-like appendages  Contact with the sap of this plant may cause dermatitis similar to that induced by poison ivy.

(Native of Texas)

Similar but not Spotted Sandmat  (Spotted Spurge) Chamaesyce maculata

red stem, round leaves have a red spot in the middle

(Native of Texas)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 28** Scientific Name

Flowers" are about 1/32" wide.  The nectar glands are green with white appendages.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower and is very hairy.  Leaves are about 1/4"-1/2" long.  Smooth leaves are thin with toothed tips.  Sprawling plant grows to about 18" wide.

Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native ?)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 25** Scientific Name

Flowers" are about 1/32" wide.  The nectar glands are pinkish/red with narrow white appendages.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower.  It is very triangular in crossection.  It turns pale red with red stripes.  Leaf nodes are at wide intervals with some branching.  Longest leaves are about 1/2" long.  Smooth leaves are thin.  Sprawling plant grows to about 18" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005

(Native ?)

Hunting Similar Species

possible  Ribseed Sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma

Leaves space far apart, in pairs.  Small flowers on short stems?  Seed has ribs.

(Native of Texas)

possible  Spreading Sandmat Chamaesyce humistrata

large and small leaves

(Native of Texas)

possible  Slimseed Sandmat Chamaesyce stictospora

red fruit?

(Native of Texas)

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