Thymeleaf sandmat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thymeleaf sandmat |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Euphorbia
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| Species: |
serpyllifolia
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Euphorbia serpyllifolia is a plant often called thymeleaf sandmat or thyme-leafed spurge. It is a type of Euphorbia plant. This plant grows naturally across a large part of North America, from Canada all the way to Mexico. You can find it in many different kinds of places.
This plant is an annual herb, which means it lives for only one growing season. It often grows flat on the ground like a mat. Sometimes, it can stand up a little bit.
What It Looks Like
The leaves of the thyme-leafed spurge are small and oval-shaped. They can be up to about 1.5 centimeters long. Sometimes, these leaves have tiny hairs on them. Their edges are often finely toothed, like a tiny saw.
The plant's flowers are very small. They grow in a special cluster called a cyathium, which is only about a millimeter wide. This flower cluster has white, petal-like parts that look like they have wavy edges. Inside, there are several male flowers and one female flower. The female flower later turns into a small, round fruit. This fruit is about 2 millimeters wide and has a lobed shape.
Where It Grows
The thyme-leafed spurge has different types, called subspecies. These subspecies grow in different areas:
- Euphorbia serpyllifolia subsp. hirtula is found only in California and Baja California in Mexico.
- Euphorbia serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia is much more widespread. It grows across most of North America. However, there is a gap where it does not grow in some of the eastern states of the United States.
Traditional Uses
Long ago, many Native American groups used this plant for different purposes. For example, the Zuni people used it to help with certain body functions. They also used it to help mothers produce more milk for their babies.
The leaves of the plant were also used in cooking. People would use them to make cornmeal taste sweeter. Some people even chewed the leaves just because they had a pleasant flavor.
