Sagina apetala, Ard.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1964, Flora Europaea - Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae, Cambridge University Press : 147-148

12. S. apetala Ard. Animadv. Bot. Spec. Alt. 2: 22 (1763).

Annual; stem (1—)3—10(—20) cm, erect or ascending, with nonpersistent basal leaves in a lax cluster, simple or with decumbent (rarely quite procumbent) to ascending non-rooting branches. Leaves linear, long-mucronate to aristate, usually more or less ciliate towards the base. Flowers usually 4-merous, solitary; pedicels filiform, often glandular-hairy at least above. Sepals ovate to ovate-oblong, rounded to acute at the apex, often hooded; petals minute, often falling early, rarely absent. Ripe capsule equalling or exceeding the patent or appressed sepals. Mean seed-size less than 0-4 mm. 2« =12. Europe northwards to Scotland, S. Sweden and Estonia. All except F a Fe Is N o Rs (N,?K) Sb.

This largely autogamous species is extremely variable, and all combinations of characters involving the ciliation of the leaves and the glandular-hairiness of the sepals and pedicels are to be found in local variants. The following is a very tentative treatment.