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Most Excellent Weed Gallery

The Euphorbs - Sandmat

              

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Hoary Sandmat Chamaesyce lata
"Flowers" are about 1/16" wide. The green nectar glands have an appendage of white fringe. The green glands turn reddish-brown with age. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower. Longest leaves are about 3/8" long. Fuzzy leaves are very thick. Sprawling plant grows to about 8" wide.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2004, May 2005

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Coleman, Runnels, Coke, Nolan)

              

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Fendler's Sandmat Chamaesyce fendleri
Green nectar glands have no white fringe or white/pink "flower petals" have lobes, turn bright red with age. They are about 1/16" wide. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower. Pods have indented sides and red stripes. Longest leaves are about 3/8" long. Smooth leaves are thick and edges are sometimes red. Stems are red. Sprawling plant grows to about 8" wide in a zigzag.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Nolan)

Hunting Similar Species

Whitemargin Sandmat Chamaesyce albomarginata
White "flower" is just smaller than leaves. Wide thin leaves.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman)

     

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Ribseed Sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
"Flowers" are about 1/32" wide. The nectar glands are pinkish/red with narrow white appendages. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower, triangular in cross section, pale red with red stripes, can be dark red, seed has ribs. Sprawling plant to about 18", grows a single main stem with many branches, from a taproot. Stems light to dark red. Leaf nodes are at wide intervals. Longest leaves are about 1/2" long. Leaves are entire or have small teeth near tip only. Occasionally leaf edges are red. Frost turns leaves and stems lavender/white.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Nolan)

Similar Species

Prairie Sandmat Chamaesyce missurica
Long leaves clump along long red stem.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Runnels, Coke)

Eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
Spear-like leaves clump along long red stem. Leaves have fine teeth.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Nolan)

                          

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Hyssop Leaf Spurge Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
This is the only upright sandmat in my area. The central stalk has many branches, each with a crown of terminal flowers/fruit. Flowers" are about 1/16" wide on peduncle. The nectar glands are small, greenish-brown with large white appendages that are not scalloped. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower, green with a red blush. "Flower" base and stems are red. Longest leaves are about 1/2" long. Leaf edge is toothed and red. Plant shown about 8" tall.
Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2006
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Brown, Nolan)

     

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Prostrate Sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata (Euphorbia prostrata)
"Flowers" are about 1/32" wide and clustered down the stem. The "petals" are pale pink with white edges. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower and is sometimes pink. Longest leaves are in the middle of the stem and are about 3/8" long. Overlapping, smooth leaves are thin. Stem looses leaves near base. Sprawling plant grows to about 14" wide.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Brown, Runnels, Coke, Nolan)

Hunting Similar Species

Matted Sandmat (Creeping Spurge) Chamaesyce serpens
Tiny flowers. Stems reddish. Small leaves are wide spaced.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Nolan)

Spotted Sandmat (Spotted Spurge) Chamaesyce maculata
Red stem. Round leaves sometimes have a red spot in the middle or red edges. Tiny flowers and fruit clustered at wide leaf nodes.
(Native of Texas - Callahan, Brown, Nolan)

  

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Slimseed Sandmat Chamaesyce stictospora
"Flowers" are about 1/32" wide. The nectar glands are green with white appendages. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower and is very hairy. Leaves are about 1/4"-1/2" long. Smooth leaves are thin with toothed tips. Sprawling plant grows to about 18" wide.
Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown, Nolan)

Other Species in My Area

Dwarf Sandmat Chamaesyce jejuna
(Native of Texas, rare - Taylor, Nolan)