Sand Dune Spurge

(Chamaesyce cumulicola)

*Species description adapted from Chafin, 2000.

FAMILY:

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

RANKS:

G2/S2: imperiled globally and in Florida.

RANK REASONS:

Imperiled because of rarity or because of vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or human-made factor.  Plant is endemic to Florida.

LEGAL STATUS:

• US--none
• FL--Endangered

WETLAND STATUS:

• US-UPL
• FL-UPL

HABITAT:

Sandy openings in coastal scrub, stable dunes.

BEST SURVEY SEASON:

Flowers spring--fall, but is best identified by seeds; leaves and stems may be useful all year.

RANGE-WIDE DISTRIBUTION:

Endemic to east coast of FL.

CONSERVATION STATUS:

About 25 populations are known, most of these on 20 conservation areas.

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT:

Protect dunes from clearing and development.  Allow hot fires to burn into coastal scrub periodically.

REFERENCES:

• Burch, D.  1966.  Two new species of Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae), new combinations, and a key to the Caribbean members of the genus.  Annals of Missouri Botanical Garden 53: 90-99.
• IRC.  1999.  Floristic inventory of southern Florida database.  Institute for Regional Conservation Website (www.regionalconservation.org) presented by Fairchild Tropical Garden.  Updated December 1999.