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

Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis (Pers.) G. Don R.P. Rossb.
Canadian sand-spurry (western sandspurry)
Caryophyllaceae (Pink family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

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General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect or ascending to decumbent, several, freely branched, essentially glabrous, 4-30 cm tall/long.

Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves opposite, linear, 1-4.5 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, more or less glabrous, fleshy; stipules squared-off, wider than long, membranous, sheathing at the base.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of few to many flowers in a leafy cluster; petals 5, white or pink, 1-3 mm long; sepals 5, greenish, glabrous to moderately glandular-hairy, 2-3.5 mm long.

Fruits:
Capsules 3-5 mm long, 3-valved; seeds 0.8-1.1 mm long, light brown, usually wing-margined.

Notes:
Two sometimes poorly defined varieties occur in BC.

1. Plants prostrate or decumbent; plants occurring N of Vancouver Island ..................var. canadensis

1. Plants erect or strongly ascending; plants of Vancouver Island and southward..................... var. occidentalis Rossbach

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Native	S5	Yellow	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.

TAXONOMIC KEY TO SPERGULARIA

1. Stamens 2-5; sepals glabrous to moderately glandular-hairy.

2. Leaves blunt; seeds usually wing-margined, 0.8-1.1 mm long...........S. canadensis

2. Leaves abruptly slender-pointed; seeds wingless, 0.6-0.9 mm long............... S. salina

1. Stamens 6-10; sepals densely glandular-hairy.

3. Seeds dark reddish-brown, nearly smooth, usually surrounded with a thin, white or brownish wing; sepals 5-9 mm long; plants native perennials............. S. macrotheca

3. Seeds light or dark brown or greyish-brown, finely reticulate and pimply, wingless; sepals 3.5-5 mm long, or less; plants introduced annuals or short-lived perennials.................... S. rubra

Source: Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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