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| Chamaesyce serpens (Kunth) Small | Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| TAXONOMY | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Genus: | Chamaesyce | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Species Synonyms: | Euphorbia serpens Kunth | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Names: | round-leaved spurge serpent spurge matted sandmat |
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| DISTRIBUTION | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada: | southwestern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba – southern Ontario | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan: | southwestern Saskatchewan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecoregion: | Mixed Grassland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| HABITAT | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan: | dry, barren hilltops | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Associated Species: | broom snakeweed, desert wirelettuce, Nuttall’s saltbush, povertyweed, prairie sunflower, western wheatgrass | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RARITY STATUS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Provincial
Status According to Harms (2003): |
Endangered |
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| Nature Conservancy Status: | G5 S1 |
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| Saskatchewan
Species at Risk Status: |
None |
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| COSEWIC Status: | None |
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| Round-leaved spurge is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare and highly regionally restricted in the province. This species is usually locally numerous within localized areas. Possible threats have been identified for this species. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SPECIES DESCRIPTION | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Roots: | fibrous | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stem: | annual, lying flat on the ground, 5 – 40 cm long, branched, rooting at nodes, hairless | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves: | opposite, leaf stalks to 1 mm long, blades 2 – 8 mm long, ovate to round, tip rounded, base unequal and rounded, margins entire; stipules on both sides of stem united to form whitish to pinkish membranous, entire to irregular scale | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inflorescence: | solitary at nodes and in forks; involucre 0.7 mm long; glands 4, 1 mm long; appendages white to pink | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Flowers: | male flowers 3 – 8 per inflorescence; female flowers 1 per inflorescence | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruits: | capsule 1 – 1.5 mm long; seeds 3, brownish with white seed coat, smooth | ||||||||||||||||||||
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