Status: Native
Synonyms:
Chamaesyce serpyllifolia (Persoon) Small
Chamaesyce neomexicana (Greene) Standley
Chamaesyce rugulosa (Engelmann) Rydberg
Euphorbia neomexicana Greene
Euphorbia serpyllifolia Persoon var. rugulosa Engelmann
Euphorbia serpyllifolia is a prostrate, glabrous herb with milky latex in laticifers. The leaves are inequilateral at the base and they are dentate (use a hand lens) near the apex. The glands in the cyathium are green yellow. The stem cross section shows specialized red pigment containing cells in the epidermis. The laticifers are scattered through the
parenchyma and appear as darker gray (gray instead of white because they are opaque to light under the compound scope) cells that may appear elongate since they form channels.
Compare the laticifer distribution in E. serpyllifolia with the distribution of laticifers in Argemone pleiacantha of the Papaveraceae, in which the laticifers are restricted to the area of the phloem in the stem.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 30, 2008
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, cyathia detail, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 30, 2008
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, inequilateral based & dentate leaf detail, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 30, 2008
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, milky latex released upon damage, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 31, 2021
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, stem with epidermal red pigmented cells and parenchymal latificers, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 31, 2021
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, stem with epidermal red pigmented cells and parenchymal latificers, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 31, 2021
Euphorbia serpyllifolia, stem with epidermal red pigmented cells and parenchymal latificers, photo Russ Kleinman & Karen Blisard, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, October 31, 2021
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