Definitely in the Euphorbiaceae
The Euphorbiaceae, or spurge family, is a huge one. The genus Euphorbia alone includes over 2,000 species, several hundred of which are often now split off into the genus Chamaesyce. That may be where this little plant belongs but I’m not sure. There are lots of these low-growing, inconspicuous little spurges in central Texas, and I haven’t learned to tell them apart. To give you a sense of scale, let me add that each of the small fruits you see here is no more than half a centimeter (a fifth of an inch) across
Today’s picture comes from February 9, 2012, at the intersection of York Blvd. and Stonelake Blvd. in northwest Austin.
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I’m antipodally away from home (loosely speaking). You’re welcome to leave comments, podal or antipodal, but please understand if I’m late in responding.
© 2015 Steven Schwartzman
Absolutely gorgeous!
Even if you’re not at home, Steven, this is
wishing you a Happy Valentine,
Dina, Klausbernd, Siri & Selma xxxx
Dina
February 14, 2015 at 7:25 AM
Hi, guys. Thanks for wishing us a Happy Valentine, which we spent in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Steve Schwartzman
February 15, 2015 at 11:37 AM
wonderful photo
taphian
February 14, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Very nice palette of colors and textures. It’s tempting to draw anatomical analogies, but that’s probably best left to the imagination.
krikitarts
February 14, 2015 at 8:55 PM
The capsules are actually tripartite, Gary, so you’d have to be thinking of some unusual anatomy. Speaking of which, here’s something that’s been in the news in Auckland (NZ):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/65855907/cloud-or-phallus-sculpture-an-eyeopener-for-aucklanders
Steve Schwartzman
February 15, 2015 at 11:42 AM
I’ve enjoyed the study of many examples of unusual anatomy through the years, but some things are best left to the imagination of the observer and not expressed in general. And though I go out of my way to see some forms of new art, this would not be one of them.
krikitarts
February 17, 2015 at 11:50 PM
Thanks for appreciating it. Tiny things can have as much charm as larger ones.
Steve Schwartzman
February 15, 2015 at 11:38 AM
that’s true
taphian
February 16, 2015 at 10:17 AM
I like the many attractive soft shades of colour on the fruit and the leaves. A very “fertile” or can I say voluptuous looking cluster, Steve. 🙂
Jane
February 14, 2015 at 11:13 PM
Voluptuous it is, Jane, even if on a small enough scale that few people give these low Euphorbias a look (neither a first one nor much less a second).
Steve Schwartzman
February 15, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Lovely image, Steve. I do enjoy the Euphorbiaceae, but I once brought home the common roadside variety (the Latin escapes me at the moment) and that was a serious mistake. Very invasive and difficult to eradicate. The tiniest bit of root yields a whole new crop of weedables. I think after 20 years it’s gone.
Steve Gingold
February 15, 2015 at 4:31 AM
Weedables is a great word, Steve. We can pretend that Euphorbiaceae is Greco-Latin for “takes a weeding / But keeps on seeding.”
Steve Schwartzman
February 15, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Here is a link to our pal the leafy spurge. https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/euphorbia/esula/
If only it spread just by seed it would be so much easier to eradicate by picking off the flowers. That only makes it angry and it spreads its roots faster.
Steve Gingold
February 15, 2015 at 12:10 PM
I see Euphorbia esula is native to central and northern Europe. Too bad it didn’t stay there.
Steve Schwartzman
February 18, 2015 at 3:32 AM
Those are cute little fruits, but apparently really TINY! Good luck identifying them. 🙂
eLPy
February 15, 2015 at 3:41 PM
I expect there are people at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center who could identify this, but I try not to query them too often.
Steve Schwartzman
February 18, 2015 at 3:33 AM
You’ll be more excited when you figure it out. 😉
eLPy
February 18, 2015 at 7:55 AM
Let’s hope so. I’ve had so many unknowns over the years.
Steve Schwartzman
February 19, 2015 at 3:15 AM