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Lesser Sea-spurrey

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Lesser Sea-spurrey photos

Scientific Name:Spergularia marina
Lesser Sea-spurrey plant
Lesser Sea-spurrey - plant
Photo: A J Brown


Other Common Names:


Salt Sand-spurrey, Saltmarsh Sand-spurrey, Lesser Sand-spurrey


Status:


Native to all States and New Zealand but cosmopolitan in distribution.


Plant Description:


Annual with a slender taproot and stems to 35 cm long. Leaves linear, fleshy and more or less obtuse. Stipules also obtuse. Flowers rose-purple with white bases to the petals, usually shorter than the 2.5-4 mm sepals which have a prominent blackish-red dot at their base. Stamens usually number 2-5. Capsules slightly longer than the sepals, containing 0.6-0.8 mm long, orange brown to deep red-brown, winged and unwinged seeds which have a thickened rim covered in tiny translucent bumps (or papillea).


Habitat:


Mostly growing on coastal cliffs, saltmarshes and inland saline wetlands.


RegionSalinity ClassWaterlogging Class
Mallee, Loddon Murray, Central and Northern, Wimmera, Western, GippslandS2, S3, S4W2, W3


Comments:


A number of Sea- or Sand-spurrey species occur in Victoria and can be difficult to tell apart. A simplified key to Spergularia species can be accessed here –
Key to species

Lesser Sea-spurrey Photos


Lesser Sea-spurrey flower
Lesser Sea-spurrey - flower
Photo: A J Brown
Lesser Sea-spurrey with Lax Saltmarsh-grass
Lesser Sea-spurrey with Lax Saltmarsh-grass
Photo: A J Brown

Lesser Sea-spurrey flower leaves
Lesser Sea-spurrey - leaves

Photo: A J Brown

Lesser Sea-spurrey - mature capsules
Lesser Sea-spurrey - mature capsules
Photo: A J Brown

Lesser Sea-spurrey flower buds
Lesser Sea-spurrey - flower buds
Photo: A J Brown

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