Anagallis aryensis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 28

4. A. aryensis L. , Sp. Pl. 148 (1753)

( A. phoenicea Scop. , A. platyphylla Baudo , A. parviflora Hoffmanns. & Link ).

Annual or biennial, rarely short-lived perennial. Stems 6-50(-90) cm, quadrangular, diffuse, ascending to erect. Leaves 8-18(-25)x 4-10(-18) mm, opposite or rarely whorled, sessile, both surfaces dotted with glands; margins scarious; upper leaves narrower than lower, ovate to lanceolate. Flowers in axils of upper leaves; pedicels 3-35 mm, at anthesis usually exceeding subtending leaves, recurved in fruit. Calyx 3-5-5 mm, divided nearly to base; lobes narrowly lanceolate, apiculate, not concealing corolla in bud. Corolla (2-)4-7(-10) mm, blue, red or various paler colours; lobes ovate to elliptical, entire or dentate or crenate; marginal hairs usually numerous, always 3-celled, with a globose terminal cell. Stamens 0-5-1-5 mm, when dry 0-2-1 mm. Capsule 4-6 mm. Seeds 12-45. In = 40. Cultivated ground, waste places and maritime sands. Almost throughout Europe. All except Fa Is Sb.

This is a species in which many variants have been described, for example A. parviflora Hoffmanns. & Link , which is sporadic and seems to be little more than a small-flowered variety. Blueflowered plants predominate in the Mediterranean region; they become rarer northwards, being replaced by red-flowered plants. Plants with flowers of other colours occur throughout the range of the species.