|Scientific Name||Euphorbia albomarginata (Chamaesyce albomarginata)||USDA PLANTS Symbol||CHAL11|
|Common Name||Rattlesnake Weed, Whitemargined Sandmat||ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.||28038|
|Description||Habitat: Limestone soils and poorly-drained clay soils; in open or disturbed areas in desert scrub, grasslands, mesquite woodlands.
Plant: Prostrate, mat-forming perennial with stems branching from a central point and frequently rooting at nodes; stems 4 to 30 inches long.
Leaves: Opposite stem leaves on very short petioles; blades orbicular to oblong, 1/8 to 1/3 inch long, entire margins often with a red blotch in the center.
Inflorescence: Very small flowers with what appear to be 4 white petals; each blossom is actually a cyathium, a cup formed of white petal-like bracts which contain very small, separate male and female flowers. For a detailed description click here.
Fruit: Smooth, tiny, broadly oval-shaped, ~1/16-inch long.
Bloom Period: April to September.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers" by Steve West, and SEINet.
|BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key
Banner photo of Lupinus ssp. by Rick Capozza, Austin TX
© Tom Lebsack 2023