Scientific Family
Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms
Chamaesyce polycarpa, C. polycarpa var.hirtella, Euphorbia polycarpa, E. polycarpa var. hirtella and more see SEINET.
Other common names
whitemargin sandmat
small-seeded sandmat
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
2 to 9-1/2 inches
Riparian
No
Slender tap root; stems many, branched in a zig-zag pattern, milky sap. Floral structure (cyathium) looks like a single cup-shaped flower; whorl of white bracts have a female flower, a single pistil surrounded by male flowers each with a single stamen.
Red nectar glands of the floral structure are elongated, with attached narrow white petal-like bracts; leaves opposite, smooth margined, leaf base is usually not symmetric; capsule is smooth, not hairy, up to 1/16 inch long; seeds smooth.
Habitat
Found in sandy or gravelly soils on desert slopes and flats.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
800
High elevation
3500
Flower Characteristics
Floral structure is a cyathium (cup-shaped grouping of bracts enclosing a single female flower) surrounded by 5 clusters of 15 to 32 male flowers; cyathium base has 5 maroon nectar glands attached to narrow white scalloped bracts.
Flower color
White to red
Flower shape
Bell-shaped
Tubular
No
First bloom month
January
Last bloom month
December
Flower clusters
Other
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Many branched, prostrate or erect stems up to 9-1/2 inches long; lowest leaves united at the stem base; leaves oval to oblong 1/16 to 1/2 inch long, attached on short stalk with tiny lance-like leaves (stipules) at base, stipule margins with hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green to reddish
Leaf shape
Other
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is a capsule, 1/16 inch in diameter, spherical, 3 angled lobes, 3 ovary chambers, 1 seed per chamber.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Light brown to whitish
Seeds are <1/16 inch long, oval and 4-angled, without hairs, whitish.