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status
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
16th July 2014, unknown place. | Photo: © Bastiaan Brak |
In its habitat, spreading wildly in a field. |
16th July 2014, unknown place. | Photo: © Bastiaan Brak |
Almost symmetrical in its V-branches and drooping un-opened inflorescences. [A second exhibit with a fawny-brown stem is attempting to get a look-in from the left.] |
2nd June 2007, Princeslade Corner, IOW(??) | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Mike Cotterill |
An arable very variable weed of light sandy acidic soils |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The long plant starting bottom centre, not the plant upper right. Stems usually reddish brown spreading in 5 or 6 directions. 40 to 60cm tall. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
A seedling just growing. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Stems round and stickily hairy, hence the stray pappus top right. Leaves in whorls at intervals along the stem. The flowers that are yet to open are bent over as in Spergularia species such as Rock Sea-Spurrey whilst open flowers are pointing in the other direction. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Open flower and bent-over-double as-yet un-opened flowers. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Plant has glandular sticky hairs all over - see sand-grains sticking to stem. Five sepals encase closed flowers, the lower part of the sepals in dark and light green. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Flower 4 to 7mm across with five white petals, each with a short flat attachment to the centre. Ovary pale-green in centre, with 5 pale cream stigma atop each on a separate style. There should be 10 stamens, each with yellow anthers (only 8 on this specimen). |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Five triangular sepals each with a wide white margin around the edges. Petals longer or equal to the length of the sepals. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Sticky glandular hairs cover every part except the petals. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Long narrow leaves 10-30mm long, often greyish-green, with tapering circular cross-section bunch at every node, which is swollen. |
6th June 2015, arable field, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Glandular hairs have a sticky bobble atop. Leaves not quite circular cross-section, they have a slight groove running lengthwise on the outside. |
8th Oct 2007, Bucks Farm, IOW(??) | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Mike Cotterill |
Unopened flowers are usually directed downwards towards Earth. The long linear leaves are in but few whorls down the stem from the flowers. |
8th Oct 2007, Bucks Farm, IOW(??) | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Mike Cotterill |
Opened flowers straighten up their pedicel; unopened ones stay downwardly directed until they open. |
Could be confused with : Sea-Spurreys such as Rock Sea-Spurrey (Spergularia rupicola) [plants with similar name belonging to the same Family (Caryophyllaceae) but differing Genus with similar folded stance of buds in relation to flowers but with azure and white flowers] There are two varieties:
The specimens above from Aughton are therefore probably var. sativa seeing as the glandular hairs are densely numerous and it is in the NW.
No relation to : Corn Marigold (Glebionis segetum),
Growing in arable fields, a calcifuge (doesn't like alkaline soils), declining and vulnerable, but not yet rare. Grows on sandy soils (sand is acidic - unless it is from the sea with parts of sea-shells mixed in with it - which are alkaline) The flowers are
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arvensis ![]() |
⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ |
Caryophyllaceae ![]() |
![]() Spergula (Spurreys) |
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