Spergula arvensis L.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Caryophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Spergula arvensis L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Simple or much-branched annual to 40 cm, sparingly (seldom more copiously) glandular-pubescent; lvs 2–5 cm, narrowly linear or subulate, channelled beneath, clustered at the nodes in two opposite sets of 6–8, appearing verticillate; stipules small but evident; sep ovate, 2–3 mm, obtuse, glandular-puberulent; pet white, obovate, obtuse, shorter to longer than the sep; stamens 10 or sometimes 5; fr broadly ovoid, surpassing the sep; seed 1–1.5 mm, blackish, subglobose, minutely roughened,conspicuously white-papillate and white-margined or narrowly winged; 2n=18. Native of Europe, widespread as a weed in cult. ground and waste places; N.S. to Alas., s. to Fla. and Calif. May–Aug. (S. sativa)