Spergularia villosa (Pers.) Cambess   Caryophyllaceae  (Pink Family)   South America   Sand Spurry     Villous Sand Spurry

                                         March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Low perennial herb from a rather heavy taproot; stems usually viscid-glandular, 1-3 dm. long; lvs. fascicled, narrow, 1-4 cm. long; stipules broadly lanceolate, acuminate, 3-8 mm. long; cyme many-fld., lax, glandular-pubescent; sepals linear-lanceolate, 3-5 mm. long; petals white, 2.6-5 mm. long; stamens 7-10; styles 0.4-0.6 mm. long; caps. mostly 5-6 mm. long; seeds pyriform, black-papillate to smooth, winged or sometimes not, 0.4-0.6 mm. long.

Habitat:  Generally in sandy places and near the coast; near Coastal Salt Marsh and Coastal Strand; occasional in interior valleys, Coastal Scrub; L. Calif. to Ore.  April-July.

Name:  Name is derived from the genus Spergula, and its derivation is from the Latin, spargere, to scatter, because of sowing seeds to produce forage.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 345).  Latin, villosus, hairy, shaggy.  (Jaeger 281).

General:  Common in the study area and the most common species of the genus in the study area.   Photographed on the westerly side of the Delhi Ditch and the 23rd Street Flats.  (my comments).       About 40 species, widely distributed.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 345).

Text Ref:  Munz, Flora So. Calif. 345; Roberts 18.

Photo Ref:  Mar 4 85 # 14,15; April-May 86 # 11.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

First Found:  March 1984.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 213.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 3/1/05.  

                                            April Photo