| Home | > | List of families | > | Caryophyllaceae | > | Spergula | > | arvensis |
| Synonyms: |
Alsine arvensis Crantz Arenaria arvensis Wallr. |
| Common names: | Corn spurry (English) |
| Frequency: | Probably rare |
| Status: | Introduced |
| Description: |
Erect branching herb up to 60 cm tall; branches hairless or sparsely glandular-pubescent above. Leaves appearing whorled, sessile, linear, 1–6·5 long, sparsely glandular-pubescent. Inflorescences terminal, few- to many-flowered with branches glandular-pubescent; pedicels up to 2·5 cm. long. Sepals elliptic, usually glandular-pubescent outside, greenish with a white membranous margin. Petals obovate or ovate, white, slightly shorter than the sepals. Stamens 10, slightly less than half the length of the petals. Capsule ovoid or subglobose, splitting about 2/3 of the way down into 5 valves, exserted from the persistent perianth. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | arvensis: of cultivated fields |
| Habitat: | A weed of wetter cooler areas. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Near cosmopolitan. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | C,E |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 32. Maroyi, A. (2006). Preliminary checklist of introduced and naturalized plants in Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(2) Page 207. Wild, H. (1960-1). Caryophyllaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 345 - 346. (Includes a picture). |
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