Alkali Sandspurry

R. P. Rossbach's (1940) report of Spergularia diandra from Georgia is referred to 9. S. echinosperma.

The name Spergularia diandra was effectively and validly published via an autographic label distributed in 1851, predating the other commonly seen attributions of this combination.

Plants annual, delicate, 5-15 cm, stipitate-glandular throughout or nearly so. Taproots slender. Stems erect to diffusely spreading, much-branched proximally and distally; main stem 0.3-0.7 mm diam. proximally. Leaves: stipules inconspicuous, silvery to dull tan, broadly triangular, 1.5-2 mm, apex acuminate; blade linear, 0.6-2.3 cm, somewhat fleshy, apex blunt to apiculate; axillary leaf cluster usually absent. Cymes simple but commonly 4-8+-compound. Pedicels erect to reflexed in fruit. Flowers: sepals connate 0.2-0.5 mm proximally, lobes 1-veined or not, lanceolate to ovate, 2.3-3.1 mm, enlarging little in fruit, margins 0.1-0.3 mm wide, apex obtuse to rounded; petals white, elliptic to ovate, 0.7-0.8 times sepals; stamens 4-7; styles 0.4-0.6 mm. Capsules greenish tan, 2.5-2.8 mm, 0.9-1.2 times sepals. Seeds black, often with silvery, not iridescent tinge, with submarginal groove, pyriform, somewhat compressed, 0.4-0.6 mm, shiny, sculpturing of low, elongate tubercles, not papillate (40×); wing absent. 2n = 18 (Europe).

Herbs annual. Stems ascending, 5--15 cm tall, slender, glandular pubescent. Leaves not or rarely fasciculate, 5--20 × 0.3--0.5 mm, apex obtuse; stipules not silvery, triangular, rarely lanceolate, short. Cymes sparse, small; bracts reduced. Pedicel slender. Sepals oblong-ovate, 1.5--2.5 × ca. 1 mm, apex obtuse. Petals lilac, rarely white, oblong-elliptic, shorter than sepals. Stamens 2 or 3. Capsule ovoid, 1.5--3 mm, ca. equaling calyx, valves purple-black at maturity. Seeds dark brown to black, ovoid, ca. 0.5 mm, unwinged. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jun--Sep. 2n = 18.

introduced; Alta., B.C., Sask.; Idaho, Mass., Oreg., Wash.; Europe (Mediterranean region); sw, c Asia; n Africa; introduced in Australia.

Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia; Europe, SW Asia].

Flowering spring-fall.

Sandy beaches, river shores; 600-700m.

Wet saline grasslands, floodlands; 900--2600 m.

Arenaria diandra Gussone, Fl. Sicul. Prodr. 1: 515. 1827; Spergularia salsuginea Fenzl

Arenaria diandra Gussone, Fl. Sicul. 1: 515. 1829.

Spergularia diandra, the alkali sandspurry, is a species of annual herb in the family Caryophyllaceae (carpetweeds). They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Individuals can grow to 4.4 cm.