Chamaesyce maculata (Prostrate spurge)

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Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small

Prostrate spurge, spotted sandmat, spotted spurge, milk purslane

Parents	Unknown	Genus is not in the current taxonomy
Genus	Chamaesyce	From ancient Greek chamai, “on the ground,” describing a type of prostrate plant
Species	maculata	From Latin maculatus, "spotted, blotched" (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)

About plant names...

These North American native plants are common weeds, found on roadsides, gravelly areas, atop mulch, and in other disturbed soils.

Identification: This common species apparently takes on multiple forms, judging from the surprisingly variable descriptions I have found so far. Some sources say it keeps a low profile, about 1″ (2.5 cm) high, lying flat on the ground, hence the "prostrate" and "sandmat" in two of its common names. This is the only form I have so far noticed. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide says it is "more or less erect with a stem up to 2½′ (76 cm) high." The article at missouriplants.com describes it as up to 12″ (30 cm) in height, "erect to ascending or reclining." Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast describes it as 1¾-4″ (5-10 cm) tall. Wildflowers in the Field and Forest says it is 4-36″ (10-91 cm) in height.

Stems are green, often pale to strong red in sunlight, heavily branched, with sparse tomentoulose hairs. They produce a milky latex when cut. The leaves are also variable. They are opposite, oval to linear and somewhat asymmetric, with one edge flatter than the other and fine serrations, ⅛-1″ (5-30 mm) long and about one third to one half as wide. Leaves often have an irregular dark reddish blotch near the center. Flowers are practically invisible at less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size. They are cyathia with four "petals" that are white or light pink. Fruits are about 1/32″ (1 mm) in size.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones The milky sap may cause a mild contact dermatitis. Gloves are advisable when handling this plant.

This species is similar to several others, some shown below:

6/29/2023 · West Virginia

8/11/2012 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

8/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

8/7/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

	You are here Chamaesyce maculata	*Chamaesyce vermiculata*
Common Name	prostrate spurge	spotted spurge
Plant	Sometimes prostrate, only 1″ (2.5 cm) high; sometimes up to 3′ (91 cm) in height. Stems are green or pale to strong red in sunlight, heavily branched, with sparse *tomentoulose hairs*. They produce a milky latex when cut.	Sometimes prostrate, less than 1″ (2.5 cm) high; or up to 1′ (40 cm) high. Stems vary from green to reddish to dark red, and exude a milky sap when broken. They are *hairy*, with hairs that point out rather than being matted, ~1/32″ (0.5-1.5 mm) long.
Flowers	Less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size. They are cyathia with four "petals" that are white or light pink.	Nearly imperceptible at less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size. They are cyathia with four "petals" that are white or light pink, appearing from July to October.
Leaves	Opposite, oval but somewhat asymmetric, with one edge flatter than the other and fine serrations, ⅛-1″ (5-30 mm) long and about one third to one half as wide. Leaves often have a dark reddish blotch near the center.	Opposite, somewhat asymmetric, oval, ¼-¾″ (6.3-19 mm) long and *one half to two thirds as wide*, with widely spaced serrations, often with an irregular dark reddish blotch in the middle.
Fruit	1/32″ (1 mm) in size. *Hairy*.	1/32-1/16″ (1.5-2 mm) in size, *hairless*, with three lobes.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Disturbed soils, roadsides, gravelly areas, atop mulch, gardens, cracks in sidewalks	Meadows, fields, roadsides, disturbed soils
Type	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Common	Common