Taxon Report

Euphorbia vallis-mortae (Millsp.) J.T. Howell

Death Valley sandmat

Print Report


Taxon Summary

Euphorbia vallis-mortae, commonly known as Death Valley sandmat, is a perennial herb in the Euphorbiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub (gravelly, and sandy), growing at elevations from 230 to 1460 meters. Euphorbia vallis-mortae is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Euphorbia vallis-mortae (Millsp.) J.T. Howell
Common Name:
 Death Valley sandmat
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Element Code: PDEUP0D2G0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Chamaesyce vallis-mortae Millsp.

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Oct May-Oct
Elevation: 230-1460 (755-4790)
General Habitats: Mojavean desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 4.2
Global Rank: G3
State Rank:
 S3
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 0

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Kern (KRN), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bartlett (3611841), Cane Canyon (3511852), Cantil (3511738), Claraville (3511843), Coyote Lake (3511617), Cross Mountain (3511832), Dove Spring (3511841), East of Langford Well (3511625), Fort Irwin (3511636), Freeman Junction (3511758), Horse Canyon (3511851), Inyokern (3511767), Joshua Tree North (3411623), Lamont Peak (3511871), Langford Well (3511626), Ninemile Canyon (3511778), Owens Lake (3611748), Owens Peak (3511768), Paradise Range (3511627), Pearsonville (3511777), Pinyon Mtn. (3511842), Saltdale NW (3511748), Saltdale SE (3511737), Walker Pass (3511861), Yucca Valley North (3411624)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
0 0 %

Notes
See Field Columbian Museum Botanical Series 2(1):403 (1916) for original description, Madroño 2(2):19 (1931) for revised nomenclature, and Taxon 55:397:420 (2006) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Threatened by vehicles and trampling. Possibly threatened by solar and wind energy development.
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 11 April 2025].