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Euphorbia maculata

Linnaeus

Spotted Spurge

G5Secure Found in 34 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.140340
Element CodePDEUP0D1E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEuphorbiales
FamilyEuphorbiaceae
GenusEuphorbia
Synonyms
Chamaesyce maculata(L.) SmallChamaesyce supina(Raf.) MoldenkeEuphorbia supinaRaf.
Other Common Names
Euphorbe maculée (FR) Spotted Sandmat (EN) spotted sandmat (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
The Flora of North America (vol. 12 2016) transfers Chamaesyce maculata to Euphorbia maculata; these represent the same concept for the element.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-14
Change Date1994-03-22
Edition Date2024-06-14
Edition AuthorsRusso, Mary (TNC WRO), rev. N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Euphorbia maculata is a widespread and weedy species in temperate latitudes and in higher elevations in the tropics; occurring in gardens, cracks in sidewalks, fallow fields, railways, roadsides, and on disturbed sites. In addition, it occurs as an introduced species in many locations worldwide. With a large range extent, well over 300 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Euphorbia maculata is a widespread and weedy species in temperate latitudes, also occurring at higher elevations in the tropics (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2016). It occurs in Canada from British Columbia east to Nova Scotia, where it is considered exotic, and across the United States south into tropical America (Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024). Euphorbia maculata also occurs elsewhere in the world as an introduced species. Range extent was estimated to be over 2.5 million square kilometers, using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are well over 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Euphorbia maculata is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant urban habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Euphorbia maculata occurs in gardens, cracks in sidewalks, fallow fields, railways, roadsides, and on disturbed sites (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2016, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).

Ecology

Euphorbia maculata is considered exotic in Canada and occurs elsewhere in the world as an introduced species (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2016, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Old fieldSuburban/orchardUrban/edificarian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IndianaS5Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
HawaiiSNANo
New MexicoSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
FloridaS4Yes
GeorgiaSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
IowaS5Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
North DakotaSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
MississippiSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
NebraskaSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
MontanaSNANo
TexasSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
New HampshireSNRYes
IdahoSNRYes
NevadaS2Yes
DelawareS5Yes
MichiganSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
KansasS5Yes
VermontS5Yes
OregonSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
IllinoisSNANo
WyomingS1Yes
MarylandSNRYes
New JerseyS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
CanadaNNA
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickSNANo
QuebecSNANo
Nova ScotiaSNANo
OntarioSNANo
Prince Edward IslandSNANo
British ColumbiaSNANo
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (34)
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
California (17)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
Florida (1)
AreaForestAcres
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest2,954
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Utah (7)
AreaForestAcres
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2016. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 12. Magnoliophyta: Vitaceae to Garryaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 603 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.