Spotted Spurge

Euphorbia maculata (L.) Small

(also called Chamaescyce maculata)

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

▲ seedling

▲ ▼ young, mature plants

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ flower and fruit detail

▲ ▼ mature plants showing purplish spots on leaves

Spotted Spurge:  

·         It usually grows smaller than Prostrate Spurge (at least not as broad-spreading as prostrate spurge

·         Has purplish spots on its leaves which also may be toothed on edges; tends to have scattered long hairs on upper leaf surface, and more dense hairs underneath; stems similar to prostrate spurge

·         Stems may root at the nodes

·         Capsules are evenly covered with hair without pronounced angle hair; styles are divided about ¼ to 1/3 their length, with pink bulb-like tips

·         Similar Spreading Sandmat has capsules that are lightly covered with incurved hairs; style is split about half way; cyathia (flower) is split on one side; another prostrate-growing spurge, Creeping Sandmat, has smaller, oval to almost rounded, hairless leaves and fruit

·         Also has milky sap  when stems or leaves are broken, making it easy to distinguish from Prostrate Knotweed