img

Euphorbia serpens

Kunth (1817)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Euphorbia

matted sandmat, spurge

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

img
img

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Mokupāpapa (Kure atoll) Naturalized
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Potentially naturalizing
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Potentially naturalizing

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 52 (1817)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1997:56 (NEWNAT/K, KEY, Chamaesyce albomarginata misapplied, in part = Chamaesyce serpens); Oppenheimer 2003:11 (WM); Govaerts et al. 2000:832/Yang & Berry 2011 (Syn. C. serpens = E. serpens); Starr & Starr 2017:5 (Mi); Ross & Faccenda 2023a:45 (O); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:178 (Ku)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Euphorbia serpens Pt. Mahaulepu, between Haula and Poipu; lithified dunes Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5373 Kauai BISH 1984-05-27
2 Euphorbia serpens more specific locality not given Preserved_Specimen DLNR staff Kure Atoll BISH 1993-08-01
3 Euphorbia serpens Near Waita Reservoir, below Koloa & Poipu, along dirt road in sugar cane fields Preserved_Specimen Small; stems prostrate. Wagner, W.L. 6024 Kauai BISH 1988-04-08
4 Euphorbia serpens Oneula Beach Park, Ewa Beach Growing ca. 5m from a rocky shoreline with Alternanthera pungens. Preserved_Specimen Annual herb, taprooted, prostrate, ca. 8-10 cm wide; involucral gland appendage white. ca. 100 plants observed. Ross, M.C. 1909 Oahu BISH 2023-03-13
5 Euphorbia serpens Kure Atoll Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kure Atoll BISH 1979-01-03
6 Euphorbia serpens Ala Wai Community Park Growing along side the walking pathway adjacent to the Ala Wai Canal. Growing with Cynodon dactylon, Indigofera spicata, Sida cillaris, and Alternanthera pungens. Only a few patches were observed, but each patch consisted of 10-20 plants. Preserved_Specimen Annual, taprooted; stems prostrate; leaf blades without a red blocth; involucral gland appendages white, equal, formoing a narrow rim at edge of the glan. Ross, M.C. 1837 Oahu BISH 2022-11-12
7 Euphorbia serpens W Maui, Lahaina District, Keawalua Growing at the edge of paved rd in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate plants. Oppenheimer, H.L. 10126 Maui BISH 2001-01-12
8 Euphorbia serpens Koloa District, Mahaulepu Littoral vegetation in sand pockets over lithified dunes. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb; stems tinged pink; leaves dull medium green to pale green, margins reddish, below dull grey green; cyatheal glands dark pink; petaloid appendages white. Flynn, T.W. 4253 Kauai BISH 1990-09-28
9 Euphorbia serpens Waimanalo, intersection of Makakalo St. and Mokulama St Growing from gravel on roadside in sunny area Preserved_Specimen Rare, < 10 plants seen Faccenda, K. 2574 Oahu BISH 2022-08-03
10 Euphorbia serpens Lihue District. Coastal strand around Nukolii Beach Park, East Kauai. East Kauai Naupaka Kahakai (Scaevola) Shrublan Sporobolus virginicus, Scaevola taccada, Tournefortia argentea, Schineus teribinthifolius, Cynodon dactylon, Ipomoea pres-caprae, I. imperati, Boerhavia repens, Vigna luteola, Portulaca lutea, Sphagneti. Occasional in flat open areas, walkways, between larger shrubs. Preserved_Specimen Low, mat-forming, mixed with Boerhavia repens, Sporobolus virginicus and Canavalia sericea, just makai of Scaevola taccada shrubs. Red cyathial glands, white appendages, apparently glabrous all parts. Recurved, pendent gynophore, white latex, leaves darker. Williams, A.M. 746 Kauai BISH 2022-09-23
11 Euphorbia serpens Green Island, around LORAN Bldgs. common Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb Herbst, D.R. 6286 Kure Atoll BISH 1979-01-04
12 Euphorbia serpens Sand Island State Recreation Area, Honolulu Growing in sand with Prosopis juliflora and Sprobolus pyramidatus. Preserved_Specimen Annual herb, taprooted, prostrate, ca. 5-6 cm. wide; involucral gland appendage white; ca. 10-15 plants observed. Ross, M.C. 1894 Oahu BISH 2023-02-20
Back to Top