Euphorbia platysperma

Flat-seeded spurge, Flat-Seeded Spurge

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Flat-seeded spurge is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in the Coachella Valley in sandy soil at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering in May, this plant produces small flowers in distinctive cyathia with four transversely obovate glands. Growing with prostrate, repeatedly forking stems that are distinctively two-faced, it spreads close to the ground in delicate patterns. Its opposite leaves are short-petioled, 5 to 10 millimeters long, with oblong to obovate blades that have rounded or tapered bases and obtuse tips. The fruit is widely ovoid and less than 4.5 millimeters long, producing smooth white seeds that are slightly two-angled and flattened.

Habitat: Sandy soil

Bloom period: May

Elevation: < 100 m

Bioregions: DSon (Coachella Valley)

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