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]
| Euphorbia missurica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. missurica
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| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia missurica | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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List
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Description
editEuphorbia 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
editEuphorbia 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
edit- ^ NatureServe (2024). "Euphorbia missurica". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Euphorbia missurica Raf". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Chamaesyce missurica". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Euphorbia missurica". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ Chamaesyce missurica Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Societey
- ^ a b Euphorbia missurica Flora of North America
- ^ a b c "Chamaesyce missurica : Missouri Spurge | Rare Species Guide". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ^ a b "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
