Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Genus
Spergularia J.Presl & C.Presl
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. (1843)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Arenaria rubra var. β marina L., Sp. Pl. 423 (1753)
  • ≡ Arenaria marina (L.) All. (1785)
  • = Spergularia salina J.Presl & C.Presl (1819)
  • = Spergularia rupestris var. elongata Fenzl in Endlicher et al., Enum. Pl. (Endlicher) 9 (1837)
  • ≡ Spergularia rubra var. elongata (Fenzl) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. III. (Fl. Tasman.) Part I, 41 (1855)
  • = Spergularia rubra var. marina Hook.f., Handb. New Zealand Fl. 25 (1864)
Vernacular Name(s):
Sea spurrey
 Description

Taprooted annual or biennial, rarely perennial. Stems decumbent, sparsely covered in glandular hairs above, or glabrous, 3–7–(10) cm long. Lvs not fascicled, fleshy, linear, obtuse or mucronate, 3–8–(12) × 1 mm, the lower glabrous, the upper with sparse glandular hairs. Stipules pale, not very silvery, connate for c. 1/2 of length and forming a short sheath, broadly triangular, subacute to acute, 1–1.5–(2) × 1–2 mm. Infl. a dichasium, few-flowered. Pedicels (1)–2–6–(10) mm long, with glandular hairs. Sepals obtuse, 2–3.5 mm long, with glandular hairs; margins scarious. Petals pink or white, < sepals. Stamens 1–5–(8). Capsule c. = to slightly > sepals. Seeds ovoid, brown, smooth, not winged, 0.5–0.6 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Mar.; Fruiting: Dec.–Mar.

 Bibliography
Adams, L.G.; West, J.G., Cowley, K.J. 2008: Revision of Spergularia (Caryophyllaceae) in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 21: 251–270.
Endlicher, S.F.L.; Fenzl, E.; Bentham, G. & Schott, H.W. 1837: Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad Fluvium Cygnorum et in Sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus liber baro de Hügel. Beck, Vienna.
Hooker, J.D. 1855–1857 ("1860"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. III. Flora Tasmaniae. Vol. I. Dicoteledones. Lovell Reeve, London.
Hooker, J.D. 1864: Handbook of the New Zealand Flora: a systematic description of the native plants of New Zealand and the Chatham, Kermadec's, Lord Auckland's, Campbell's and Macquarie's Islands. Part I. Reeve, London.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.