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Water Chickweed
Water Chickweed Myosoton aquaticum HEIGHT to 1m
Straggling perennial of damp, grassy ground and river margins. FLOWERS White, 12–20mm across, with 5 deeply divided petals (much longer than sepals) (June–Oct). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Heart-shaped with wavy edges; in opposite pairs, upper leaves unstalked. STATUS Common in England and Wales; scarce elsewhere.
Upright Chickweed
Upright Chickweed Moenchia erecta
Tiny, upright annual of short, dry grassland, typically on gravelly or sandy soils. FLOWERS White with 4 petals, opening only in bright sunshine (Apr–June). Sepals white-edged and longer than petals. FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Waxy grey-green, stiff, narrow. STATUS Local in England and Wales only.
Annual Pearlwort
Annual Pearlwort Sagina apetala HEIGHT to 8cm
Straggling, wiry annual of short, dry grassland and bare ground, usually on sandy soils. No basal rosette. FLOWERS With minute greenish petals and 4 longer greenish sepals that spread in fruit; on long stems (Apr–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, bristle-tipped, with hairy margins. STATUS Widespread and common.
Sea Pearlwort
Sea Pearlwort Sagina maritima
Wiry annual that is similar to Annual Pearlwort but fleshy. Found on bare, dry ground, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS With minute greenish petals and 4 longer purplish sepals that do not spread in fruit (May–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Fleshy, blunt (no bristle). STATUS Widespread but local.
Heath Pearlwort
Heath Pearlwort Sagina subulata
Mat-forming, downy perennial with a basal rosette. Found on dry, sandy or gravelly soils. FLOWERS With 5 white petals that are equal to, or longer than, sepals; on slender, stickily hairy stalks (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, bristle-tipped and downy. STATUS Locally common in the north and west; scarce or absent elsewhere.
Knotted Pearlwort
Knotted Pearlwort Sagina nodosa
Wiry perennial; stems look ‘knotted’ due to clustered arrangement of leaves. Found on damp, sandy soils; often coastal. FLOWERS White, 10mm across, with 5 petals that are twice as long as sepals; 5 styles (cf. Spring Sandwort, p.34) (July–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Short, clustered. STATUS Widespread but local.
Four-leaved Allseed
Procumbent Pearlwort
Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens PROSTRATE
Creeping perennial of damp, bare ground. Forms mats comprising a central rosette with radiating shoots that root at intervals, giving rise to erect flowering stems. FLOWERS Green, petal-less and borne on side shoots (May–Sep). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Narrow, bristle-tipped but not hairy. STATUS Widespread and common. Four-leaved Allseed Polycarpon tetraphyllum is a much-branched annual with leaves in 2s and 4s. Flowers are tiny and whitish. Common only on Isles of Scilly; rare near coast in SW England.
Corn Spurrey
Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis HEIGHT to 30cm
Straggling, stickily hairy annual. A weed of arable land with sandy soils. FLOWERS 4–7mm across, with 5 whitish petals (May–Aug). FRUITS Capsules; longer than sepals and drooping at first. LEAVES Narrow, in whorls along the stems. STATUS Widespread but less common than formerly, through herbicide use.
Rock Sea-spurrey
Flower
Rock Sea-spurrey Spergularia rupicola
