Spergula arvensis, L.

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 : 154

1. S. arvensis L. , Sp. Pl. 440 (1753)

( S. vulgaris Boenn. , S. sativa Boenn. , S. maxima Weihe , 5. linicola Boreau ).

Annual 5-70 cm, with ascending stems more or less branched at the base, moderately to densely glandular-hairy above. Leaves 1—3(—8) cm, linear, fleshy, channelled beneath. Sepals 4-5 mm, ovate; petals white, obovate, obtuse, slightly exceeding the sepals; stamens 5- 10. Capsule 5 mm, somewhat exceeding the sepals. Seeds 1- 2 mm, subglobose, keeled or with a very narrow wing, grey- black, papillose or not. 2/z=18. A weed o f cornfields and other cultivated ground, especially on sandy soils; calcifuge. Throughout Europe. All except Al BI Sb. Very variable in habit, pubescence, size of seed, presence of seed-papillae, etc. S. chieusseana Pomel, Nouv. Mat. Fl. Atl. 206 (1874), may merit specific rank. It differs from 1, which it replaces in S. and C. Portugal, by having a sessile instead of a pedunculate terminal inflorescence.