''Euphorbia serpyllifolia'' (''Euphorbia serpillifolia'') is a species of
euphorb known by the common names thymeleaf sandmat or thyme-leafed spurge. It is native to a large part of North America from Canada to Mexico, where it is a common member of the flora in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb growing as a prostrate mat or taking a somewhat erect form. The oblong leaves are up to about 1.5 centimeters long, sometimes hairy and finely toothed along the edges. The tiny
inflorescence is a
cyathium about a millimeter wide. It bears scalloped white petal-like appendages arranged around the actual flowers. At the center are several male flowers and one female flower, which develops into a lobed, oval fruit up to 2 millimeters wide. This plant had a number of traditional medicinal uses for many
Native American groups.
Subspecies
*''Euphorbia serpyllifolia'' subsp. ''hirtula'' is limited to
California and
Baja California.
Jepson Manual: ssp. ''hirtula''
/ref>
*''Euphorbia serpyllifolia'' subsp. ''serpyllifolia'' has far wider distribution throughout much of North America with a gap in interior eastern states of the United States.
Uses
The Zuni people
The Zuni ( zun, A:shiwi; formerly spelled ''Zuñi'') are Native American Pueblo peoples native to the Zuni River valley. The Zuni are a Federally recognized tribe and most live in the Pueblo of Zuni on the Zuni River, a tributary of the Lit ...
use it as a cathartic, an emetic, and to increase the flow of milk in a breastfeeding mother.[Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30] The leaves are used to sweeten corn meal and chewed for the pleasant taste.[
]
Notes
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery at CalPhotos
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5410571
serpyllifolia
Flora of the Southwestern United States
Plants used in Native American cuisine
Plants used in traditional Native American medicine
Spices