Euphorbia simulans
(Mimicking Sandmat)
Euphorbia simulans, Cerro Castellan, Big Bend National Park 1528
Euphorbia simulans Cerro Castellan, Big Bend National Park 1525
Euphorbia simulans, Cerro Castellan, Big Bend National Park 1529
Euphorbia simulans, Cerro Castellan, Big Bend National Park 1526
| Scientific Name | Euphorbia simulans (Chamaesyce simulans) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CHSI5 |
| Common Name | Mimicking Sandmat | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 28137 |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Clays, sandy, gravelly or rocky soils in desert scrub, mountains, hills, canyons, washes, flats and roadsides; 2000 to 4200 ft.; in the US, found only in Brewster, Presidio and Hudpseth counties of Texas. Plant: Usually prostrate, mat-forming annual or short-lived perennial with fleshy, reddish-green, tangled stems 2 to 16 inches long. Leaves: Opposite, orbiculate, oval, to shortly oblong less than 1/8 to 3/16-inch long with rounded tips and on short petioles less than 1/16-inch long; smooth surfaces and entire margins. Inflorescence: Very small (about 1/16-inch long) cyathia at nodes or stem forks which have bell- or top-shaped cups (involucre) surrounded by 4 red to purple nectar glands with no "appendages"; each cyathium with many staminate flowers (stamens and anthers) and one pistillate flower (the ovary) that is smooth or fuzzy with a protruding stigma with 3 styles, each with 2 whitish lobes. Fruit: Smooth, tiny, broadly oval-shaped, ~1/16-inch long and almost as wide. Bloom Period: April to October. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024