Matted Sandmat (Sandmats (Euphorbia sect. Anisophyllum, previously Chamaesyce) of the Llano Estacado)

Matted Sandmat

Euphorbia serpens

Description ²

Plants prostrate annuals (will often overwinter); glabrous; plants root just proximal to the nodes; plants may spread to form large sized mats well over a foot; rarely over 5 cm tall. Largest internodes around 1 mm in diameter. Stipules fused to form a scale, usually entire, occasionally divided at the tip. Leaves mostly orbicular to orbicular-rotund, entire and unequal at the base. Cyathia small, usually about 0.5 mm across or less, often difficult to distinguish without getting close to the plant. Glands oval to oblong, about 0.2 mm long. Appendage variable in length, color, and shape. Seeds smooth and plump.

Habitat and Distribution ²

Common and widespread (Turner et. al., 2003; SRSC) in various soils but seems to prefer places where water collects or where plants are being watered. As such this is one plant that is often considered a weedy species.

Comments ²

May be easily confused with E. albomarginata. The only completely accurate means of distinguishing the two is by counting the number of staminate flowers per cyathium: E. albomarginata has more than 10 staminate flowers, E. serpens has fewer than 10. However, there are some other characters that, when combined, can provide a reliable identification most of the time:

E. serpens: Annual (or overwintering); main taproots thin and smooth (even when thickened from overwintering); cyathia small with glands less than 0.5 mm wide, usually not visible to a person when standing.
E. albomarginata: Perennial; main taproots thickened, rough, and woody; cyathia large with glands greater than 0.5 mm wide, usually visible to a person when standing.

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Matted Sandmat

Description 2

Habitat and Distribution 2

Comments 2