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Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Family: Caryophyllaceae (Pink) [E-flora]
"Arenaria serpyllifolia is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from Jun to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, self.The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
Habitat/Range: Dry roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in S BC; introduced from Eurasia. [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
"The plant is antitussive, depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[147, 218]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery[218]. It is also used in the treatment of bladder complaints, calculus troubles and acute and chronic cystitis[240]." [PFAF]
Cultivation
"This species is apparently disliked by rabbits since it is often abundant round their burrows[17]." [PFAF]
Propagation
"Seed - sow spring in situ." [PFAF]
Synonyms
References
"Annual, perennial herb, erect to mat-forming, taprooted. Leaf: not congested at base of flowering stems; blades narrowly lanceolate to ovate; veins 1–5. Inflorescence: terminal or axillary; flowers 1–many; peduncles, pedicels 1–50 mm. Flower: sepals 5, ± free, 1.5–4 mm, ± lanceolate to widely ovate, glabrous to glandular-hairy; petals 0 or 5, 1.5–6 mm, entire; stamens 10; styles 3, 0.5–2 mm. Fruit: capsule, ovoid to urn-shaped; teeth 6, ascending to recurved. Seed: 8–20, gray- or dark brown.
210 species: northern temperate, especially mountains, South America, Eurasia. (Latin: sand, a common habitat) [Hartman, Rabeler, & Utech 2005 FNANM 5:51–56] Based in part on molecular evidence, most taxa moved to Eremogone. Unabridged references: [McNeill 1980 Rhodora 82:495–502; Hartman, Rabeler, & Utech 2005 FNANM 5:51–56] Unabridged note: Based in part on molecular evidence, taxa in 2 of McNeill's subgenera here included in Eremogone." [Jepson]
Local Species;
Taxonomic key to Arenaria
References