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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: | Atriplex nuttallii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Helianthus petiolaris, Iva axillaris, Pascopyrum smithii, Stephanomeria runcinata | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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| Chamaesyce serpens 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, prostrate, 5 – 40 cm long, branched, rooting at nodes, glabrous | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves: | opposite, petioles to 1 mm long, blades 2 – 8 mm long, ovate to orbicular, apex rounded, base unequal and rounded, margins entire; stipules on both sides of stem united to form whitish to pinkish membranous, entire to lacerate scale | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inflorescence: | cyathia solitary at nodes and in forks; involucre 0.7 mm long; glands 4, 1 mm long; appendages white to pink | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Flowers: | staminate flowers 3 – 8 per cyathium; pistillate 1 per cyathium | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruits: | capsule 1 – 1.5 mm long, 3-locular; seeds 3, brownish with white seed coat, smooth | ||||||||||||||||||||
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