Euphorbia species [Euphorbiaceae]

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Scientific Name Euphorbia albomarginata (Chamaesyce albomarginata) USDA PLANTS Symbol
CHAL11
Common Name Rattlesnake Weed, Whitemargined Sandmat ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.
28038
Family Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Habitat: Limestone soils and poorly-drained clay soils; in open or disturbed areas in desert scrub, grasslands, mesquite woodlands.
Plant: Prostrate, mat-forming perennial with stems branching from a central point and frequently rooting at nodes; stems 4 to 30 inches long.
Leaves: Opposite stem leaves on very short petioles; blades orbicular to oblong, 1/8 to 1/3 inch long, entire margins often with a red blotch in the center.
Inflorescence: Very small flowers with what appear to be 4 white petals; each blossom is actually a cyathium, a cup formed by white petal-like bracts which contain very small, separate male and female flowers. For a detailed description click here.
Fruit: Smooth, tiny, broadly oval-shaped, ~1/16-inch long.
Bloom Period: April to September.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers" by Steve West, and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Euphorbia antisyphilitica USDA PLANTS Symbol EUAN3
Common Name Candelilla ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 28042
Family Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) Flora of North America Ref. Click Here
Description Habitat: Desert environment; limestone soils in scrub ateas.
Plant: Multistemmed perennial up to 24 inches tall; grayish-green, pencil-like stems covered with flaky, exfoliating layer of wax.
Leaves: Alternate, very small leaves on newer growth, less than 1/8-inch long.
Inflorescence: Flower-like cyathia congested along the stems, each one resembling a single flower but actually comprised of many very small yellowish male flowers that resemble stamens surrounding a female flower; petal-like appendages are white to pink and ovate or oblong in shape, less than 1/8-inch long and across.
Bloom Period: Year-round with sufficient rainfall.
Fruit: Smooth, green, oblong to ovoid, 1/6-inch long protruding from center of each cyanthium.
References: "Wildflowers Texas Hill" by Michael Eason, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and Flora of North America.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Euphorbia eriantha USDA PLANTS Symbol
EUER2
Common Name Beetle Spurge, Woolly-flower Spurge ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.
28063
Family Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Habitat: Gravely, dry, hot areas, hillsides, and canyons.
Plant: Erect annual 6 to 20 inches tall tangled with many branching stems.
Leaves: Very narrow, alternate, linear leaves 1 to 3 inches long.
Inflorescence: Many (>25) tiny white flowers in a few hairy clusters at the ends of the branches; male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers are separate.
Fruit: Female flower becoming a small green, hairy fruit capsule less than 1/4 inch long.
Bloom Period: February to October.
References: SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2022