Euphorbia missurica

Euphorbia missurica, commonly called prairie sandmat,[2] or Missouri spurge,[3] 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.[4] Its natural habitat is in dry, often calcareous areas, including glades, bluffs, and open woodlands.[5][6]

Euphorbia missurica
Scientific 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[1]

Description

Euphorbia missurica is an annual[6] growing from a taproot. The branching stems are most often decumbent (laying 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.[7] The ovaries and capsules are hairless.[3] Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer.

Habitat and distribution

Euphorbia missurica grows in dry, sunny, sparsely vegetated habitats.[7] It is found growing on rocky or sandy soils in dry prairies and waste places and roadsides.[8] Its distribution includes the US states of: AR , CO , IA , KS , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , OK , SD , TX , WY.[8]

In Minnesota it is listed as a special concern species, where it has in the past been found in Ottertail County on sandy shorelines.[7]

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