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

Spergularia macrotheca (Hornem.) Heynh.
beach Sandspurry
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jim Riley  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #15425)

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Distribution of Spergularia macrotheca
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Spergularia macrotheca var. macrotheca

Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb with a thick, rather woody root and branched stem-base; stems decumbent to ascending, several, few branched, usually glandular-hairy, 3-45 cm tall/long, 0.8-3.0 mm in diameter.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves opposite, 2-several per node, mostly 7-50 mm long, 0.6-3 mm wide, fleshy, glabrous to densely glandular-hairy, bristle-tipped; stipules 4-11 mm long, triangular and tapering to a long-point, membranous, sheathing at the base.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary to few flowers in a terminal or axillary cluster, glandular-hairy; petals 5, dark to very pale pink, 3.5-8 mm long; sepals 5, 5-9 mm long, densely glandular-hairy, broadly lanceolate, usually more or less abruptly sharp-pointed.
Fruits:
Capsules 5.5-10 mm long, 3-valved; seeds dark reddish-brown, nearly smooth, mostly 0.6-1 mm long, usually surrounded by a white or brownish wing about 0.1 mm wide.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Wet to moist salt marshes and sandy coastal beaches in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only on SE Vancouver Island and adjacent Gulf Islands; S to CA and MX.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References