Spotted Sandmat
Chamaesyce maculata
This specimen was found blooming in Vekol Valley, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA on 10 Aug. 2008. At upper left is an enlarged view of an involucre, with a seed capsule, and a seed removed showing the ridges on the seed.
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ANNUAL: Prostrate to erect herb growing during warm season after rains.
Specimens may be up to 50 cm. tall.
Milky sap readily oozes from injuries.
RANGE: Found along washes, roadsides and rocky slopes. Also gardens and agricultural areas. Widespread
species across North America sometimes weedy in habit.
LEAVES: The leaves are elyptic and appearing smooth on margins but with
magnification finely serrated. A reddish green spot may appear near center of
leaf particularily after cold or drought.
FLOWERS: The appendages around the summit of the involucre are normally
very small. What at first appears to be a minute flower barely a mm in diameter
is actually an involucre enclosing a number of male staminate flowers and one
pistillate female flower.
FRUIT: Capsules are small and usu. with hairs, < 1 mm.,
and with three ridged seeds (magnification needed).
UNARMED: No thorns, but the milky sap can be a skin/eye irritant.