Rattlesnake Weed
Encyclopedia
Chamaesyce albomarginata (T. & G., Small, = Euphorbia albomarginata, common names Rattlesnake Weed, Whitemargin Sandmat, and "Golondrina" in Spanish) is a small low-growing annual, in the spurge
family (Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae
) native to desert, chaparral
, and grassland habitats of southwestern North America
, from southern and central California
to Northern Mexico and Louisiana
.
It can be easily identified by its small size, dusty green leaves, very flattened growth pattern, and the white circular margin around the edge of its burgundy centered flowers. It is the only member of the Chamaesyce genus
that is native to the Santa Monica Mountains
, although four invasive species
have been introduced there, and lack a white margin on the flower. As with other typical members of the Euphorbia family, it has a white milky sap, and is poisonous. It is one of only 11 members of the Euphorbia native to California, and one of four native to the Santa Monica Mountains
.
"Chamaesyce" comes from the Greek word "chame", meaning "on the ground", and "syce" meaning "fig. This refers to the growth pattern of being flattened in all aspects, as if a box had been placed on it, so as to be lying very close to the ground. One of the defining chaparral plants, Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum
), derives from the same word.
The flower has a circular burgundy center with a white ring around it. "Albomarginata" refers to the "white" ringed "margin" of the flower "petals". The plant actually has no petals, but has modified leaves called (bracts, more round that the green leaves on the rest of the plant, which form a cuplike shape. Albumin
is the reflected "white" light (origninally, but now refers to "all" light) reflected from planets or other celestial bodies which is used in spectroscopy
to infer chemical composition about the atmosphere
and body's surface. The 12-30 male flowers are difficult to see, consisting only of one stamen each, and are clstered in the center of the cup. The single female flower is at the center, with an elevated ovary
pendant
on a long stalk, which when fertalized and mature, bears a capsule fruit, and so the name "syce" ("fig").
The leaves are round to heart shaped with the point of the heart away (ovoid) from the small stem attaching the leave to the branch (petiole
). The "nonflower leaves" are a peculiar "dusty green", with green but sometimes with burgundyish edges, and burgundyish stems, similar in color to the flower center inside the white ring, and particularly so after a late Spring or Summer rain.
s poisonous to humans, with emetic and cathartic
properties that may be misconstrued as curative.
Spurge
Euphorbia is a genus of plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Consisting of 2008 species, Euphorbia is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom, exceeded possibly only by Senecio. Members of the family and genus are sometimes referred to as Spurges...
family (Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....
) native to desert, chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, and grassland habitats of southwestern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, from southern and central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Northern Mexico and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
It can be easily identified by its small size, dusty green leaves, very flattened growth pattern, and the white circular margin around the edge of its burgundy centered flowers. It is the only member of the Chamaesyce genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
that is native to the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
, although four invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
have been introduced there, and lack a white margin on the flower. As with other typical members of the Euphorbia family, it has a white milky sap, and is poisonous. It is one of only 11 members of the Euphorbia native to California, and one of four native to the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
.
Description
Euphorbia albomarginata is a common ground cover plant, usually growing less than 1/2 in (13 mm) high, with individual plants covering about a square foot, often growing closely and forming mats of vegetation. The flowers of this plant are tiny and edged in white, with a purplish center. It can be found in open fields, on roadsides, or anywhere where the ground is disturbed, including ornamental gravels in suburban yards, where it is considered as a weed."Chamaesyce" comes from the Greek word "chame", meaning "on the ground", and "syce" meaning "fig. This refers to the growth pattern of being flattened in all aspects, as if a box had been placed on it, so as to be lying very close to the ground. One of the defining chaparral plants, Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum
Adenostoma fasciculatum
Adenostoma fasciculatum is a flowering plant native to California and northern Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the chaparral biome.-Description:...
), derives from the same word.
The flower has a circular burgundy center with a white ring around it. "Albomarginata" refers to the "white" ringed "margin" of the flower "petals". The plant actually has no petals, but has modified leaves called (bracts, more round that the green leaves on the rest of the plant, which form a cuplike shape. Albumin
Albumin
Albumin refers generally to any protein that is water soluble, which is moderately soluble in concentrated salt solutions, and experiences heat denaturation. They are commonly found in blood plasma, and are unique to other blood proteins in that they are not glycosylated...
is the reflected "white" light (origninally, but now refers to "all" light) reflected from planets or other celestial bodies which is used in spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
to infer chemical composition about the atmosphere
Atmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
and body's surface. The 12-30 male flowers are difficult to see, consisting only of one stamen each, and are clstered in the center of the cup. The single female flower is at the center, with an elevated ovary
Ovary
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...
pendant
Pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
on a long stalk, which when fertalized and mature, bears a capsule fruit, and so the name "syce" ("fig").
The leaves are round to heart shaped with the point of the heart away (ovoid) from the small stem attaching the leave to the branch (petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
). The "nonflower leaves" are a peculiar "dusty green", with green but sometimes with burgundyish edges, and burgundyish stems, similar in color to the flower center inside the white ring, and particularly so after a late Spring or Summer rain.
Uses
The name is derived from its former use as a folk remedy for snakebites (as a poultice or brewed as a tea) - however, this species is not proven to be medically effective in treating rattlesnake venom. Like most spurges, rattlesnake weed secretes an acrid, milky sap containing alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s poisonous to humans, with emetic and cathartic
Cathartic
In medicine, a cathartic is a substance that accelerates defecation. This is in contrast to a laxative, which is a substance which eases defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a cathartic...
properties that may be misconstrued as curative.