[Sandspurrys: The Genus Spergularia East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Red Sand-spurrey, Sand Spurry

Spergularia rubra

Synonym: Arenaria rubra

Red Sand-spurrey, Sand Spurry: Spergularia rubra (Synonym: Arenaria rubra)

The photo above shows sand spurry as seen near Spokane, WA......August 10, 2001.

Red Sand-spurrey, Sand Spurry: Spergularia rubra (Synonym: Arenaria rubra) The photo at right shows sand spurry as seen near Spokane, WA......August 10, 2001.
Characteristics:

Sand spurry is a weedy annual that may overwinter in some locations with many lax to ascending stems branched from the base and arising from 4-20 cm high. The stems and leaves are mostly glabrous, although some minute, glandular hairs may be present. The linear leaves are minutely spine-tipped with large stipules and measure from 10-18 mm long and about 1 mm wide.

The sepals are lance-oblong in shape and covered with minute glandular hairs. The pink petals are shorter than to about equal in length to the sepals. 10 stamens are present.


Habitat:

A weedy species, sand spurry may commonly be found in gardens and sandy or dry waste areas and disturbed places.


Range:

Originally an European species, sand spurry is now widespread over much of North America.


Paul Slichter