"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
David E. Ross wrote:
On 3/10/10 4:51 PM, David Hare-Scott wrote:
I have a volunteer ground cover that I cannot identify. I also do
not have a functional camera in order to post a picture. Given the
size of the features I would need a pretty good macro lens to show
them. It has a very low spreading habit rising no more than about 2cm
(1inch). The stem is up to 10cm (4in) long but that is arbitrary as
it roots constantly as it spreads. The stem is soft, about 1mm
(1/20th in) thick and pale green. The leaves are in adjacent pairs.
Each is 7-10mm (1/4 - 3/8in) and oval in shape about 1/2 to 1/3 as
wide as it is long. The leaf is matt finish mid green and some have
a dark reddish patch in the centre. It branches at some nodes and
produces reddish flower buds about 2mm (1/10 in) in diameter. Most
of the flowers are not open (it is autumn here) and the petals are
only visible through a magnifying glass, they are pink. It has no
smell. The habit is vaguely like thyme laid very flat instead of
clumps but the stems are leaves are soft and juicy where thyme is
tougher. It is growing well in an enriched clay soil garden that is
watered
when it doesn't rain. The climate is warm temperate.

Any advice is welcome, even a guess so that I can start looking for
images. David


This sounds like spotted spurge, an agressive weed. By the time it's
big enough to see and remove, it's already dropped its tiny seeds. And if
you leave a short piece of stem, it will take root and continue
growing.

Its only "fortunate" feature is that it's an annual. But if you leave
it when it dies in the fall, you will find many new ones under it in
the following spring.

Depending on the botanist, it's either Chamaesyce maculata or
Euphorbia maculata.

Thanks that is it.
David

That grows here in WA too and isn't restricted to clay. It loves our grey
sands, grows in between paving bricks and will come up in new potting mixes.
Our Californian friend gave some good info on the seeds being broadcast
because it is rampant in its spread. The large euphorbia's, that are called
spurge as well, have explosive seed pods and can launch seeds significant
distances. It wouldn't surprise me it that does too.

The other we have is purslane which I thought may have been what you had but
not.

We also have a form of oxalis that gets red clover like leaves and another
with green clover like leaves both have small yellow flowers. I am told this
has a bulb but have never seen one. Maybe so small or to deep to find. i
think this is what Len maybe thinking of.