Euphorbia missurica

Euphorbia missurica

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. missurica
Binomial name
Euphorbia missurica
Synonyms[2]
List
    • Anisophyllum arenarium Klotzsch & Garcke
    • Chamaesyce missurica (Raf.) Shinners
    • Chamaesyce missurica var. calcicola Shinners
    • Chamaesyce missurica var. petaloidea (Engelm.) Dorn
    • Chamaesyce nuttallii (Engelm.) Small
    • Chamaesyce petaloidea (Engelm.) Small
    • Chamaesyce zygophylloides (Boiss.) Small
    • Euphorbia arenaria Engelm. & A.Gray
    • Euphorbia arenaria Nutt.
    • Euphorbia missurica var. calcicola (Shinners) Waterf.
    • Euphorbia missurica var. intermedia (Engelm.) L.C.Wheeler
    • Euphorbia missurica var. missurica
    • Euphorbia missurica var. petaloidea (Engelm.) Dorn
    • Euphorbia nuttallii (Engelm.) Small
    • Euphorbia petaloidea Engelm.
    • Euphorbia petaloidea var. intermedia Engelm.
    • Euphorbia petaloidea var. nicolletii Engelm.
    • Euphorbia petaloidea var. nuttallii Engelm.
    • Euphorbia zygophylloides Boiss.
    • Euphorbia zygophylloides var. cymulosa Engelm. ex Boiss.
    • Vallaris missurica (Raf.) Raf.

Euphorbia missurica, commonly called prairie sandmat,[3] or Missouri spurge,[4] is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found primarily in area of the Great Plains.[5] Its natural habitat is in dry, often calcareous areas, including glades, bluffs, and open woodlands.[6][7]

Description

Euphorbia missurica is an annual[7] growing from a taproot. The branching stems are most often decumbent (lying on the ground). The small flowers are in cyathia which are clustered into terminal cymes and there are petal-like appendages. Each cyathium has 29-48 male flowers and a single female flower.[8] The ovaries and capsules are hairless.[4] Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer.

Habitat and distribution

Euphorbia missurica grows in dry, sunny, sparsely vegetated habitats.[8] It is found growing on rocky or sandy soils in dry prairies and waste places and roadsides.[9] Its distribution includes the US states of: AR , CO , IA , KS , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WY.[9]

In Minnesota it is listed as a special concern species, where it has in the past been found in Ottertail County on sandy shorelines.[8]

References

  1. ^ NatureServe (2024). "Euphorbia missurica". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Euphorbia missurica Raf". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  3. ^ NRCS. "Chamaesyce missurica". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b Barbara Coffin; Lee Pfannmuller (1988). Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. U of Minnesota Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-8166-1689-3.
  5. ^ "Euphorbia missurica". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. ^ Chamaesyce missurica Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Societey
  7. ^ a b Euphorbia missurica Flora of North America
  8. ^ a b c "Chamaesyce missurica : Missouri Spurge | Rare Species Guide". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  9. ^ a b "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-01-04.