Cornspurry, Corn Spurry, Spergula, Stickwort

Spergula arvensis

Synonyms: Spergula arvense, Spergula arvense var. arvense, Spergula arvensis ssp. arvensis, Spergula arvensis var. arvensis, Spergula arvensis var. sativa, Spergula sativa

Corn spurry is also known as stickwort and starwort. It is a weedy annual with many ascending to erect stems arising to 60 cm high from the base. The herbage is somewhat sticky. The leaves are fleshy and narrow and arranged in widely-spaced whorls at the nodes. Individual leaves range from 1.5-4 cm long and are less than 1 mm wide.

The flowers are found in open clusters at the end of the stems. Individual flowers are borne upon slender pedicels to 4 cm long. The sepals are ovate and 2-3.5 mm long. The white petals are about equal to or slightly exceed the length of the sepals. There are usually 10 stamens.

Corn spurry is a weedy species found in disturbed fields, waste areas, and along roadsides.

Corn spurry is a European species found widely across much of North America. On the west coast, it is most common west of the Cascade Mts. from British Columbia south to California.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found along the Columbia River immediately east of Troutdale, Or and Camas, WA.