Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L. subsp. tetraphyllum
four-leaved all-seed
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
four-leaved all-seed
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Map
Distribution of Polycarpon tetraphyllum ssp. tetraphyllum
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Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a slender taproot; stems prostrate to erect, much branched, glabrous, 5-15 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves opposite, egg-shaped, 8-13 mm long, narrowed at the base, blunt, the lower pairs so close as to appear like whorls of 4; stipules small, triangular and long-pointed, papery.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of numerous flowers in a much-branched cluster; petals 5, white, narrowly oblong, 1-1.5 mm long, soon falling; sepals 5, 1-1.5 mm long, with a papery margin.
Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, to 2 mm long; seeds brownish, 0.4-0.5 mm long, granular.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Dry to mesic roadsides and waste places in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from Victoria; introduced from Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L.