Spergula arvensis L. ssp. arvensis.   Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family)   Europe   Corn Spurrey   Starwort

                                               January Photo

Plant Characteristics: Erect annual, branched at base, 1-4 dm. high, glabrous or glandular-pubescent; lvs. narrowly linear, apparently whorled because of crowding in axils, 1-3 cm. long; pedicels shorter, often reflexed in fr.; fls. in cymose panicles; sepals 5, 4-5 mm. long; petals 5, white, entire, as long or slightly longer than sepals; stamens 5 or 10; styles 5; caps. 5-valved, ovoid, slightly exceeding calyx; seeds dark, round, plumb, ca. 1 mm. in diam., minutely papillose, with very narrow wing-margin.

Habitat:  Occasionally natur. in vacant lots and in fields of cismontane s. Calif, especially toward the coast.  Most months.

Name:  Latin, spargere, to scatter, because of sowing seeds to produce forage.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 345).  Arvensis, pertaining to cultivated fields.  (Bailey 11).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, having been found only on the gently sloping bank westerly of the Delhi Ditch.  The plant was first found in the spring of 1988 and only one specimen was noted at that time.  In the summer of 1988, a fire burned the entire bluff-side and the next spring there were a number of specimens noted, apparently the fire activated seeds, which had lain dormant for a period of time.  Another plant not previously found in this area before the fire was Calandrinia ciliata var. menziesii. (my comments).       It has a number of interesting common names: Devil's Gut, Sandweed, Pick-purse and Yarr.  (Dale 94).       This introduction from Europe is widespread throughout the Eastern States and Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.  The flowers open only in the sunlight.  (Robbins et al. 185).

Text Ref:  Abrams Vol. II 154; Hickman, Ed. 493; Munz, Calif. Flora 283; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 345.

Photo Ref:  Oct 87-Jan 88 # 20,21.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 383.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 11/16/02.

                                                          January Photo