Chamaesyce maculata
Family:
Euphorbiaceae
Life Cycle:
Annual
Plant status:
Weed
Habit:
Prostrate spurge is, as the name indicates, a low growing plant, rarely growing higher than an inch. Branching often at the base, it forms a mat commonly 6”-18” across.
Favorable environments:
Container
Field
Greenhouse
Favorable environment notes:
Prostrate spurge thrives in moist, very warm environments, such as propagation benches and flats, greenhouse floors, gravel container areas, landscape areas; any areas that receive consistent moisture.
Dissemination:
Prostrate spurge seeds are angled, minutely pitted and have slight transverse ridges across their surface. The seeds are also hydrophilic and can adhere to surfaces when they are wet. These factors aid in the dissemination of these seeds. Prostrate spurge seed can germinate within 5 days of being sown, and grow to maturity within 5 weeks.
Management link:
Of interest:
Prostrate spurge is in the same family as the common Christmas Poinsettia. Similar to poinsettias, spurge stems have a milky sap that exudes when stems are broken. This sap makes it easier to differentiate spurge from similar looking weeds like purslane and prostrate knotweed.