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corrugate-seed spurge, rib-seed sandmat, ridge-seed spurge

broadleaf spurge, hoary sandmat

Habit Herbs, annual, with taproot. Herbs, perennial, with moderately thickened to robust rootstock.
Stems

prostrate, loosely mat-forming, 5–40 cm, glabrous, sometimes slightly glaucous.

ascending to erect, or prostrate, 10–25 cm, strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous.

Leaves

opposite;

stipules usually distinct, linear-subulate, usually irregularly fringed or lobed, rarely laciniate, 0.4–2 mm, glabrous;

petiole 0.2–2 mm, glabrous;

blade narrowly oblong to oblong-obovate or oblong-ovate, 3–15 × 2–7 mm, base asymmetric, one side angled and other rounded to shallowly cordate, margins minutely sparsely serrulate, especially near apex and on longer side, apex rounded to obtuse, abaxial surface usually pale grayish green, adaxial surface sometimes reddish tinged or with reddish blotch, both surfaces glabrous; palmately veined at base, pinnate distally.

opposite;

stipules distinct, filiform, 0.8–1.3 mm, strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous;

petiole 0.5–2 mm, densely strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous;

blade narrowly to broadly ovate-deltate, older ones often falcate, 4–12 × 3–7 mm, base asymmetric, obliquely rounded to obtuse, noticeably wider on one side, margins entire, often ± revolute, apex broadly acute, surfaces strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous; obscurely 3–5-veined from base, midvein prominent abaxially.

Involucre

obconic, 0.6–0.9 × 0.3–0.6 mm, glabrous;

glands 4, red to purple, narrowly oblong-elliptic, 0.1–0.2 × 0.1–0.5 mm;

appendages white or pinkish tinged, semilunate and fringing distal margin of gland, 0.1–0.3 × 0.1–0.3 mm, distal margin usually irregularly crenulate or lobed.

broadly campanulate, 2–2.5 × 2.2–2.6, strigose;

glands 4, greenish, oblong to semilunate, 0.2–0.7 × 0.6–1 mm;

appendages rudimentary or white, forming narrow band, (0–)0.1–0.2 × (0–)0.6–1 mm, distal margin entire or crenate.

Staminate flowers

1–5.

25–35.

Pistillate flowers

ovary glabrous;

styles 0.1–0.3 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length.

ovary densely strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous;

styles dark purplish, 0.8–1.2 mm, 2-fid 1/2 to nearly entire length.

Capsules

broadly ovoid, 1.3–1.9 × 1.6–2 mm, glabrous;

columella 1.3–1.5 mm.

ovoid, 1.9–2.3 × 2–2.4 mm, strigose to short-sericeous or ± villous;

columella 1.7–2.2 mm.

Seeds

with thin white coat that readily falls off, surface below tan brown, oblong-ovoid, sharply angular in cross section, 1–1.4 × 0.6–0.9 mm, with 3–4(–6) prominent transverse ridges that usually interrupt abaxial keel.

whitish, oblong, 4-angled in cross section, faces concave, 1.5–1.8(–2) × 0.6–0.9 mm, smooth.

Cyathia

solitary or in small, cymose clusters at distal nodes;

peduncle 0.5–1.6 mm.

solitary at distal nodes;

peduncle 1–3 mm.

2n

= 22.

= 28, 56.

Euphorbia glyptosperma

Euphorbia lata

Phenology Flowering and fruiting early summer–fall. Flowering and fruiting spring–fall.
Habitat Stream and river banks, sand prairies, loess hill prairies, meadows, ballast, open disturbed areas, roadsides. Mountain slopes, canyons, basins, rocky prairies, roadsides, disturbed sites, usually in calcareous soils, sometimes in igneous-derived, sandy or rocky soils.
Elevation 0–1800 m. (0–5900 ft.) 600–2200 m. (2000–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; CT; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; LA; MA; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; ND; NE; NH; NM; NV; NY; OK; OR; SD; TN; TX; UT; VT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; KS; NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Euphorbia glyptosperma is one of the most widespread species of the genus in North America, and it is often quite weedy. It is likely native to much of the central United States, but in areas like eastern Canada, it occurs in highly disturbed habitats, and it may be adventive there. Euphorbia glyptosperma is characterized by its prominently ridged seeds, laciniate stipules, complete lack of pubescence, and somewhat obscure toothing near the tips of the leaves.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 269. FNA vol. 12, p. 275.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Anisophyllum Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Anisophyllum
Sibling taxa
E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
Synonyms Chamaesyce glyptosperma E. dilatata, Chamaesyce lata, E. rinconis
Name authority Engelmann: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 187. (1859) Engelmann: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 188. (1859)
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