Euphorbia albomarginata

Rattlesnake sandmat, Rattlesnake Sandmat

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Rattlesnake sandmat is a California native perennial found in southern San Joaquin Valley, southwestern California, and desert regions on dry slopes at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces white petal-like appendages surrounding small cyathia flowers. Growing with prostrate stems that repeatedly fork and create a distinctive two-faced growth pattern, it spreads across the ground in low, intricate formations. Its opposite leaves are small, ranging from 3 to 8 millimeters long, with round to oblong shapes and asymmetric bases. The plant produces tiny white seeds approximately 1 to 2 millimeters long, nestled within smooth, angled fruits.

Habitat: Common. Dry slopes

Bloom period: Apr-Nov

Elevation: < 2300 m

Bioregions: s SnJV, SW, D

California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, San Diego, Inyo, Tulare, Ventura, Tehama, Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.