Family: Caryophyllaceae
Spergularia marina
Citation:
Griseb., Spic. Fl. Rumel. 1:515 (1843).
Synonymy: Arenaria rubra L. var. marina L., Sp. Pl. 423 (1753); S. salina J.S. & C. Presl, Fl. Czech. 95 (1819).
Common name: Salt sand-spurrey.
Description:
Annual, biennial or perennial herb with a tap root; stems 3-35 cm high, usually glabrous at the base, covered with glandular hairs towards the summit, but sometimes entirely glabrous or glandular-tomentose throughout, branched just above the ground; leaves 1-4 cm long, c. 1 mm wide, distinctly fleshy, linear-lanceolate, acute or mucronulate, sometimes fasciculate; stipules 2-3 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, connate at first, almost triangular, white.
Inflorescence a simple or branched raceme-like cyme, terminal or subterminal, congested or loose; bracts very small, similar to the stipules; pedicels 2-10 mm long, hairy; sepals 3-5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, glandular externally, obtuse, with broad membranous margins, with purple markings at the base; petals pink or whitish, 2-2.5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, ovate to oblong-ovate; stamens 2-10.
Capsule ovoid, 3-6 mm long; seeds wingless, yellow-brown, broadly pyriform, compressed, smooth when young, tuberculate at maturity.
Published illustration:
Ross-Craig (1951) Drawings Brit. Pl. 5:pl. 65.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Native to Europe and other temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: throughout the year.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
The purple markings at the interception of the sepals can be found on at least a few flowers on each plant and has only been observed elsewhere in S.Aust. on one or two specimens of S. media. The pyriform seeds are also diagnostic.
Author:
Not yet available
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