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Euphorbia setiloba Engelm. ex Torr.  
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Yuma sandmat
[Chamaesyce setiloba (Engelm. ex Torr.) Norton]
Euphorbia setiloba image
Max Licher  
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Kearney and Peebles 1969, McDougall 1973, FNA 2012, Allred and Ivey 2012
Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Annual herb from a slender taproot; stems mostly prostrate and spreading, to 15 cm long; herbage covered with glistening gland-tipped hairs. Leaves: Opposite along the stems, on petioles 1 mm long; blade oblong to ovate, 2-7 mm long, with an asymmetric base and entire margins; stipules distinct, filiform. Flowers: Has the highly modified flower structure characteristic of Euphorbias. Structures called cyathia appear to be individual flowers, but are composed of fused-together bracts forming a cup (involucre), with peripheral nectary glands which are often subtended by petal-like bracts called petaloid appendages. Within the cup there is a ring of inconspicuous male flowers, each reduced to a single stamen. Out of the middle protrudes a single, stalked female flower which lacks petals. In E. setiloba, the cyathia (flower structures) are solitary in the leaf axils near branch tips. Involucres are bell-shaped or urn-shaped, 1 mm high, and villous (hairy), with 4 red to pink glands around the edge, each with a white to pink petaloid appendage that is divided into 3-6 point-tipped triangular segments; 3-7 staminate flowers. Fruits: Capsules globose and sharply angled, 1 mm diameter, pubescent; containing 3 tan to cream colored quadrangular seeds, to 1 mm long, dimpled or with faint ridges. Ecology: Found in canyons and on plains from 200-5,000 ft (61-1524 m); flowers March-October. Distribution: c and s CA, s NV, s UT, AZ, s NM, s TX; south to n MEX. Notes: This species belongs to the Chamaesyce subgenus of Euphorbia. Some treatments, even recent ones, continue to treat Chamaesyce as a separate genus even though molecular evidence places it within Euphorbia. Chamaesyce spp are distinct based on their leaves which are always opposite and and often have asymmetric bases; cyathia (flower structures) in leaf axils, not at branch tips, and usually with petaloid appendages; and stipules present and not gland-like. E. setiloba is a prostrate (ground-hugging) annual, distinguished by its leaves and stems with long, soft hairs which are usually gland-tipped and somewhat sticky (use your hand lens); small leaves less than 1.5 cm long with smooth edges; cyathia (flower structures) with red glands and white petaloid appendages which are divided into sharp-pointed triangular segments, making them resemble stars; and hairy seed pods. It is wise to make a collection whenever ID to species is needed, as Chamaesyces are difficult to identify in the field, and multiple species of the genus will commonly grow side-by-side. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania; setiloba means bristle-lobed; alluding to the sharp-pointed petaloid appendages. Synonyms: Chamaesyce stiloba, Euphorbia floccosiuscula Editor: LCrumbacher 2011, FSCoburn 2015, AHazelton 2017
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Euphorbia setiloba
Open Interactive Map
Euphorbia setiloba image
Liz Makings  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Max Licher  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Liz Makings  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Eugene, (Gene) Sturla  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Patrick Alexander  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Patrick Alexander  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Eugene, (Gene) Sturla  
Euphorbia setiloba image
Eugene, (Gene) Sturla  
Euphorbia setiloba image
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