E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Sagina apetala Ard.
common pearlwort (annual pearlwort)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Hans Roemer  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #26178)

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Distribution of Sagina apetala
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Species Information

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General:
Annual herb from a slender taproot; stems ascending, numerous, branched, thread-like, finely glandular short-hairy above, especially in the inflorescence, 3-10 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal and stem leaves opposite, linear awl-like, 2-5 mm long, sparsely on their slightly papery bases, minutely needle-pointed; stipules lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers on 2-12 mm stalks; petals 4, minute or more often lacking; sepals 4, rarely 5, egg-shaped, 1.5-1.75 mm long, finely glandular short-hairy above, erect in fruit.
Fruits:
Capsules oblong, 2-3 mm long, 4-valved; seeds 0.2-0.3 mm long, kidney-shaped, with a small projection.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry roadsides and waste places in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known from Vancouver and Victoria; introduced from Eurasia.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Sagina apetala var. barbata Fenzl

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References