Euphorbia polygonifolia Linnaeus. Subgenus: Chamaesyce. Section: Anisophyllum. Common name: Northern Seaside Spurge, Northern Sandmat. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Open sands of dunes, upper beach, dune blowouts and overwashes, sometimes growing with perennial grasses such as Uniola paniculata, but preferring open sands with little competition, sometimes mixed with the less common E. bombensis; rarely a railroad waif. Distribution: NS to ne. FL along the Atlantic Ocean; disjunct to the Great Lakes, including (in our region) Presque Isle, nw. PA.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: See E. bombensis for discussion of the habitats of these related species.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA12, G, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Va, Govaerts, Frodin, & Radcliffe-Smith (2000); = Chamaesyce polygonifolia (L.) Small — Fl2, Il, S, S13, WH3. Basionym: Euphorbia polygonifolia L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Euphorbia polygonifolia - FNA12
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Sprawling, mat-forming annual of open sands on dunes, upper beaches, dune blowouts and overwashes, sometimes growing with perennial grasses such as Uniola paniculata, but preferring open sands with little competition.
Stems: Stems branched and prostrate-spreading (mats to 12 in. wide), pale red and smooth, leaking milky sap when broken.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, short-petiolate, narrowly oblong with slightly asymmetric base, 1/4-3/4 in. long, medium green above and pale green beneath, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers mostly solitary in leaf axils. Each "flower" is actually a tiny cup on a short, pale red stalk; along its rim are 4 nectar glands and 4 barely perceptible, white appendages, and within the cup are male flowers, each consisting of a single anther, and a single female flower (at the cup center) consisting of a 3-part style sitting atop a rounded, 3-lobed ovary on a stalk.
Fruits: Fruit a stalked, smooth, 3-lobed capsule.
Comments:
Height: 2-4 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Sprawling, mat-forming annual of open sands on dunes, upper beaches, dune blowouts and overwashes, sometimes growing with perennial grasses such as Uniola paniculata, but preferring open sands with little competition.
stems: Stems branched and prostrate-spreading (mats to 12 in. wide), pale red and smooth, leaking milky sap when broken.
leaves: Leaves opposite, short-petiolate, narrowly oblong with slightly asymmetric base, 1/4-3/4 in. long, medium green above and pale green beneath, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers mostly solitary in leaf axils. Each "flower" is actually a tiny cup on a short, pale red stalk; along its rim are 4 nectar glands and 4 barely perceptible, white appendages, and within the cup are male flowers, each consisting of a single anther, and a single female flower (at the cup center) consisting of a 3-part style sitting atop a rounded, 3-lobed ovary on a stalk.
fruits: Fruit a stalked, smooth, 3-lobed capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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