Fauna
Plant

Prostrate Sandmat

Euphorbia prostrata

Also known as Prostrate Spurge, Groundfig Spurge

Prostrate sandmat carpets compacted soil and pavement cracks with dense, radiating mats of wiry pinkish stems and tiny oval leaves. Minute cuplike cyathia yield sharply angled, three-lobed capsules with hairs clustered along their ridges that rupture to disperse seed. Damaged tissues instantly exude a sticky white latex loaded with chemical compounds that deter grazing herbivores and insect pests.

GroundcoverDrought-TolerantRuderal
Prostrate Sandmat reference
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Spurge flea beetles
  • Aphids
  • Seed-harvesting ants
ThreatsHerbicides, mechanical tilling, hand-pulling
HabitatsSidewalk cracks, gravel roadsides, agricultural fields, waste ground, garden beds
Life spanAnnual (3–8 months)
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilyEuphorbiaceae
  3. GenusEuphorbia
  4. SpeciesEuphorbia prostrata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Milky sap irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if eaten; wear gloves when weeding.
Why it is dangerous
Exudes an acrid milky latex containing diterpene esters that trigger painful contact dermatitis, blisters, and severe ocular inflammation.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for flat, radiating mats hugging the ground with tiny paired leaves that bleed white sap instantly when stems break.
What to do
Wear protective gloves during removal, avoid rubbing your eyes, and wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Responsible observation
  • Protective Gear: Wear gloves when hand-pulling to prevent the milky sap from contacting bare skin.
  • Identification: Use a hand lens to examine the fruit capsules, which feature hairs confined along the angles.
  • Pet Safety: Keep dogs and cats from chewing on mats growing in sidewalk edges and lawn margins.
Related species
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