Common Name

Bocconi's Sandspurrey

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Notes

Introduced annual or biennial forb, sprawling. Leaves opposite each other, the leaf pairs united by a sheath at the base. Leaves 1-4.5cm long, less than 1mm wide, hairless, with a pointed tip or the tip drawn out into a short bristle. Flowers with 5 petals, white, or pink inside, in open groups at the tops of the stems.

Differs and from plants of Spergularia brevifolia that have coloured flowers in that the backs of the petals are white. It cannot be differentiated from plants of Spergularia brevifolia that have white flowers on characters that can be seen with the naked eye.

Differs from Spergularia diandra in that the tips of the petals are not darker than the rest of the petals.

Differs from Spergularia diandroides in that the leaves are hairless and not sticky.

Differs from Spergularia marina in that the petals do not have a white spot at the base.

Differs from Spergularia rubra in that the petals are white, or pink inside.

Definite differentiation between the species of Spergularia depends on microscopic examination of the seeds.

Descriptions of all species of Spergularia in this key are mostly taken from:  Adams, L.G. West, J.G. & Cowley, K.J., (2008) Revision of Spergularia (Caryophyllaceae) in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 21:251-270

PlantNET description with photo of dried plant:  http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Spergularia~bocconei

Line drawing from Flora Palaestina. Scanned by Missouri Botanical Garden, USA