Chamaesyce serpyllifolia - Thyme-leaved Spurge
Family: Euphorbiaceae - Spurge [E-flora]
"Euphorbia serpyllifolia is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
- Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia [E-flora]
"General: Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems usually prostrate, freely branched with milky juice, 5-30 cm long. Leaves: Obliquely oblong to more oblong egg-shaped, toothed near the tip, 5-15 mm long; stipules at the base lanceolate, irregularly margined, 0.5-1.5 mm long." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Dry, sandy or gravelly sites in the lowland and steppe vegetation zones; rare on S Vancouver Island and SC BC; E to MB and S to MO, TX, NM, CA and MX." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Hazards
- Sap
- "The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material[200]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[214]." [PFAF]
Edible Uses
- Root
- "Root - cooked. They are chewed (by women!) and then mixed with corn meal to sweeten it[161]. One report says that the women would keep the root in their mouths for two days, only taking it out when taking refreshments or sleeping. At the end of that time as much cornmeal as possible was placed in the mouth and held there, without chewing, until the build-up of saliva forced ejection of the mass[257]. (Saliva contains certain enzymes that convert starches to sugars and so it will sweeten corn meal on its own[K].) The root can be dried for later use[257]." [PFAF]
- Yeast: "The chewed root acts like a yeast preparation and has been used in making cakes[257]." [PFAF]
- Fermented: "The root has been fermented to make an intoxicating drink[257]." [PFAF]
- Leaves: "The leaves are used for chewing[161, 177]. They have a pleasant taste[257]." [PFAF]
- "All these uses should be viewed with some caution, see the notes above on toxicity." [PFAF]
"Thymeleaf sandmat was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[257]. It is not normally used in modern herbalism and any use of this plant should be done with great care because of its potentially toxic nature[K]." [PFAF]
- Plant
- Decoction: "A decoction of the plant has been used to encourage milk flow in nursing mothers and to treat diarrhoea, stomach aches[257]. Externally, the decoction has been used as a wash on running sores and poison ivy rash[257]." [PFAF]
- Poultice: "A poultice of the plant has been applied to rattlesnake bites - this must be done immediately after being bitten if it is to be effective[257]. A poultice made from the chewed plant has been applied to cuts to stop the bleeding[257]. The heated poultice has been used to treat toothache[257]." [PFAF]
- Leaves
- "The dried leaves have been rubbed into scratches on the abdomen to treat dysentery and bloating in children[257]." [PFAF]
- Sap
- Warts: "The sap has been used to treat warts[257]. The sap needs to be applied at least once a day and will take some time to be effective." [PFAF]
Cultivation & Propagation
"We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. Other members of the genus prefer a light well-drained moderately rich loam in an open position[200]. Succeeds in dry soils[1]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[200]. The ripe seed is released explosively from the seed capsules[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. This genus has been singled out as a potential source of latex (for making rubber) for the temperate zone, although no individual species has been singled out[141]." [PFAF]
"Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20oc." [PFAF]
Synonyms- Euphorbia serpyllifolia. [PFAF]
- [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Chamaesyce%20serpyllifolia&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed March 25, 2021
- [PFAF] https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Euphorbia+serpyllifolia, Accessed March 25, 2021
Chamaesyce Sp. - Spurge
"Note: Forms monophyletic group with Chamaesyce..." [Jepson] "Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae) has about 2000 species worldwide and is well known for the remarkable diversity of succulent and non-succulent plants that are avidly grown by horticultural enthusiasts. The entire genus is characterized by the presence of a cyathium, a unique inflorescence type (Prenner & Rudall, 2007; Prenner & al., 2011). The genus appears to have originated in the Old World (Steinmann & Porter, 2002), with multiple New World groups embedded in it. The largest New World lineage consists of more than 500 species that are characterized by the presence of petaloid appendages subtending the cyathial glands, although this feature has been subsequently lost a number of times. This petaloid appendage-bearing, New World group is deeply nested within Old World groups, and together they constitute Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce Raf. (Steinmann & Porter, 2002; Bruyns & al., 2006; Horn & al., 2012a). Subgenus Chamaesyce is best known for its leafy, non-succulent, ornamental species, such as the Christmas Poinsettia (E. pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch), one of the most profitable potted plants in the world." [Yang et al.,2012]
"Among the four subgenera of Euphorbia, Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce is the second-most species-rich, encompassing around 600 species worldwide." [Yang et al.,2012]
"Due to widespread convergence in growth forms and cyathial characters, subgeneric classification within Euphorbia has been notoriously contentious. The current scheme of four subgenera is based on molecular evidence. All molecular phylogenetic studies to date support all cyathium-bearing species as forming a monophyletic Euphorbia s.l. (Steinmann & Porter, 2002; Bruyns & al., 2006, 2011; Park & Jansen, 2007; Zimmermann & al., 2010; Horn & al., 2012a). These studies also support the monophyly of four major clades within Euphorbia, which were informally named by Steinmann & Porter (2002) as clades A, B, C and D. Among them, clade D was later recognized by Bruyns & al. (2006) as subg. Chamaesyce Raf." [Yang et al.,2012]
Local Species;- Chamaesyce serpyllifolia - Thyme-leaved Spurge [E-flora]
- Chamaesyce nutans - eyebane [E-flora]
- Chamaesyce serpens - matted sandmat [E-flora]
- Chamaesyce vermiculata - wormseed sandmat [E-flora]
"Chamaesyce sp.; (3) euphorbiaceae; (4) Mexico; (6) metrorrhagia, pink eye; (8) Kickapoo" [CRC Eth]
References
- [Jepson] Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2024, Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/, accessed on December 14, 2024. eFlora Treatment Author: David J. Keil, Thomas J. Rosatti, Mark H. Mayfield & Daryl Koutnik Reference: Horn et al. 2012 Molec Phylogen Evol 63:305--326 Unabridged Reference: Wheeler 1936 Bull S Calif Acad Sci 35:127--147
- [Yang et al.,2012] Yang, Ya, et al. "Molecular phylogenetics and classification of Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae)." Taxon 61.4 (2012): 764-789.
Chamaesyce nutans - eyebane [E-flora]
Chamaesyce serpens - matted sandmat [E-flora]
Chamaesyce vermiculata - wormseed sandmat [E-flora]
Various Other Species
Chamaesyce berteriana (Balbis ex Spreng.) Millsp. - Berteron's sandmat
Species not found in POWO search. May not be an accepted species name. [Personal Observation]
"Chamaesyce berteriana; (3) euphorbiaceae; (4) Haiti; (6) asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, dysentery, dysuria, fever, toothache (1)" [CRC Eth]