Indeed, snow sounds pretty good about now, eh. Well, the Snow-on-the-prairie (Euphorbia bicolor) does not mean that cool weather is just around the corner. However, I think it is wonderfully nice on the eyes with its cool white and green colors in this heat as it gets started!
Snow-on-the-prairie (Euphorbia bicolor) is common in Wise County. Belonging to the Euphoria family, it is a soft plant with it pilose hairs.
The “flowers” are tiny and have no petals or sepals. What you see are the bracts! The seeds will develop into a three lobed capsule. The plant is an annual. FNCT says the seeds are ballistic. That would be cool to see! Cattle don’t like it so it will often be what is left in overgrazed pasture. It is not the Snow-on-the-prairie’s fault that it is being given an opportunity to grow. Chris Helzer goes into more of its growth strategies.
The white milky sap is caustic and can cause a skin rash. In fact, Shirley once told me sometimes it would even cause a skin rash on a horse. I do not if this was her personal experience as she rode her horse in Dallas as a child.
Next, a seed gets blown onto the pilose hairs!
Ant crosses path with a resting spider!
The spider did not move a lick!
Indeed this is a tiny tiny (2-3 mm) spider! The Snow-on-the-prairie is just starting so I look forward to more wildlife on it as the season progresses! 🙂
Finally, a Two-striped Mermiria (Mermiria bivittata) stops in as well.
I hope my maybe snow on the prairie blooms soon too!
Love the spiders. If the ant and spider had a conflict which would win?
Interesting question!
I’m amazed anything is able to flower in this drought. That’s one tough species!