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:  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. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: throughout the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

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