The milky sap may cause a mild contact
dermatitis. Gloves are advisable when handling this plant.
Chamaesyce rafinesquei (Greene) Arthur
Euphorbia vermiculata Raf.
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Chamaesyce vermiculata (Raf.) House Spotted spurge, small spotted sandmat, hairy spurge, wormseed sandmat, worm-seed sand-mat
These North American native plants are common weeds, found on roadsides, gravelly areas, atop mulch, and in other disturbed soils. Identification: Plants are prostrate, less than 1" (2.5 cm) high, or up to 16" (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. Leaves are opposite, somewhat asymmetric, oval, ¼-¾" (6.3-19 mm) long and one half to two thirds as wide, with widely spaced serrations. Leaves often have an irregular dark reddish blotch in the middle. Flowers are 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. Fruits are ¹/₃₂-¹/₁₆" (1.5-2 mm) in size, hairless, with three lobes. Edibility: Poisonous This species is similar to several others, some shown below: |
8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire |
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Chamaesyce maculata |
You are here Chamaesyce vermiculata |
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| Common Name |  |
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| 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 16" (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 |
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| Habitats | Disturbed soils, roadsides, gravelly areas, atop mulch, gardens, cracks in sidewalks | Meadows, fields, roadsides, disturbed soils | |||||||||
| Type | Wild | Wild | |||||||||
| Occurrence | Common | Common | |||||||||
Online References:
The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium
Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network (Chamaesyce)
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 344
Chamaesyce vermiculata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 2 × 1¾" (5.3 × 4.9 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
Range:
