Species name :

Euphorbia serpensKunth
Published in Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 52 (1817)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Chamaesyce serpens (Kunth) Small

Synonym that was used for long in Malta: Euphorbia chamasyce auct. Melit. non Kunth

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [PlantList] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Euphorbiaceae Juss. (The Spurge Family)
30 species from the Euphorbiaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Matted sandmat

Maltese name(s) :

Ġemmugħa tat-toroq

Status for Malta :

Doubtful origin. It is not yet established if this species is native or not.

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent    Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: THEROPHYTE ( annual plants, herbaceous )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (2/Mar/2022)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

April – December

Colour of Flowers:

Inconspicuous or White

Toxicity:

Mildy toxic, can cause adverse conditions if consumed in large quantities

Name Derivation :

Euphorbia: Named for Euphorbus, a Greek physician to Juba II - King of Mauretania of Numibia (52-50 BC - 23 AD), who might have used a certain plant in allusion to his swollen belly, possibly the plant Euphorbia resinifera. (Further info: [link]). Euphorbus can have also been derived from 'Eu-' = good or true and '-phorbe' = pasture or fodder, thus giving the meaning well-fed or provides a fat-belly from consumption. (Greek origin )

serpens:

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines

Remarks :

In the past this species have been misidentified with the closely related E. chaemasyce but both species differe in details of the fruit and stipules. E. chaemasyce occurs in more natural habitats in Malta, such as dry valley beds and valley sides. See local paper in the literature section of this profile [ click here ]