Euphorbia Albomarginata, Rattlesnake Weed
Plants > Wildflowers > Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia Albomarginata
Common names:
Rattlesnake weed, whitemargin sandmat
Family:
Scientific name:
Euphorbia albomarginata
Synonym:
Chamaesyce albomarginata
Main flower color:
Range:
From south California, eastwards to Texas and Oklahoma
Height:
Up to 16 inches, through sideways, close to the ground
Habitat:
Sandy or gravelly locations; washes, hillsides, chaparral, grassland, up to 6,000 feet
Leaves:
Oblong to oval, opposite, about a quarter of an inch long, dull green in color
Season:
February to November
Euphorbia albomarginata is similar in appearance to many other members of the spurge family; a small, spreading, low-growing plant producing numerous grey-green leaves and red/white flowers. The inflorescence is actually a modified flower known as a cyathium, which consists of five fused, cup-shaped bracts and four white lobes with a red band (a nectar gland) at the base; the whole structure is only around a sixth of an inch in diameter. At the center are even smaller flower parts; a ring of 15 to 30 stamens around a forked ovary. The white part of the lobe is slightly wider than the red part. Lobe edges can be smooth or lightly notched.
Leaves grow on short stalks, with a fused, triangular stipule at the attachment point. The branched, prostrate stems are hairless, and contain milky sap. Stems and leaf edges are usually colored red.
Leaves grow on short stalks, with a fused, triangular stipule at the attachment point. The branched, prostrate stems are hairless, and contain milky sap. Stems and leaf edges are usually colored red.
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