Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Sagina procumbens L.

*S. procumbens L., Sp. Pl.  128  (1753)

procumbent pearlwort

Perennial. Stems procumbent or rarely ascending, slender but not filiform, glabrous, (2)-5-10-(20) cm long; axillary fascicles of lvs present; adventitious roots sometimes present at nodes. Rosette lvs short-lived. Cauline lvs linear, hyaline at base, glabrous or with minute marginal cilia, aristate at apex, (3)-5-10-(15) × 0.2-0.5 mm. Fls small, 4-(5)-merous. Pedicels glabrous, (5)-10-15-(20) mm long. Sepals obtuse, glabrous, 1.5-2-(3) × 1-1.5 mm; hyaline margins always green. Petals very small to c. 3/4 length of sepals, rarely 0. Stamens 4-(5). Capsule ovoid, slightly > calyx; styles and valves 4-(5). Seeds brown, triangular- ovoid, papillate, 0.4 mm long.

N.; S.; St.; Ch., C., A.: throughout.

Europe, Siberia, N. America 1873

Roadsides, scrub, grassland, railway land, lawns, riverbeds, coastal cliffs, sand dunes, herbfield, from sea level to 1500 m.

S. procumbens often occurs in damper sites than S. apetala.

S. truncata Colenso, originally treated as a native sp., is based on specimens of S. procumbens.

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