Species
Euphorbia maculata
Etymology
Euphorbia: after Euphorbus, a Greek physician who served King Juba of Numidia in 12BC. Juba named a cactus to honour Euphorbus and later Linnaeus named the entire genus after the physician.
maculata: From Latin 'macula' blotch, meaning blotchy
maculata: From the Latin maculatus 'blotched'
Common Name(s)
spotted spurge; spotted sandmat (USA)
Authority
Euphorbia maculata L.
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Brief Description
Procumbent annual herb; dull grey-green, often with a purple central spot on each leaf; sparsely to densely hairy, especially on stems. Flowers minute, in small clusters in leaf axils.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Synonyms
Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small
Distribution
In 1970s and 1980s was known mostly in north of the North Island of NZ + records from Nelson and Christchurch, but it has spread rapidly southwards in late 1990s and by 2010-15 has become a common, often abundant weed of road and path edge gravels, driveways, open dry gardens and waste areas. Seeds prolifically.
Habitat
Dry open stone/gravel areas - often the first plant encountered at edge of tar-sealed roads.
Flower Colours
Green
Year Naturalised
1969
Origin
North America
This page last updated on 16 Feb 2016