Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small =Euphorbia supina =Euphorbia maculata Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family) Eastern United States Spotted Spurge

                                   June Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, prostrate or ascending, +/- villous; stems 1-4.5 dm. long; lvs. elliptic-ovate to oblong, serrulate to subentire, 4-17 mm. long, hairy or becoming glabrous, tip acute to obtuse; stipules subulate, sometimes lacerate; cyathia mostly on congested lateral branches, obconic, 0.8 mm. in diam.; glands transversely elongate, ca. 0.2 mm. long, the appendages narrow, white, crenulate; staminate fls. mostly 4-5; caps. strigose, sharply angled, ca. 1.4 mm. long; seeds quadrangular, ca. 1 mm. long, the facets whitish-brown and with low transverse ridges.

Habitat:  Weed about waste places, especially near towns; throughout cismontane Calif.  May-Oct.

Name:  Euphorbus, physician of Numidia.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 409).  Latin, supinus, prostrate.  (Jaeger 253).

General:  Common along Back Bay Dr. near the hill before the road terminates into Eastbluff Dr., photographed there.  (my comments).      This spurge has been suspected in stock poisoning cases.  (Robbins 287).      All Euphorbia species can raise blisters on susceptible people, and an overdose of the root tea can make anyone sick.  (Fielder 121).      A highly diversified genus of over 1000 species, mostly temperate, many cactus-like, or otherwise highly modified in habit.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 409).

Text Ref:  Abrams Vol. III 42; Hickman, Ed. 571; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 415; Roberts 22.

Photo Ref:  Oct 1 86 # 4,5; June 88 # 2A; May-June 91 # 14.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  October 1986.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 316.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/6/05.

                               October Photo                                                                          May Photo