Lesser Sea-spurrey

Spergularia marina

Plant Data

Order:

Caryophyllales

Family:

Caryophyllaceae (Pink)

Type:

Flower

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flower:

Pink, 5 petals

5 pink petals whitening towards the centre. Distinguishable from Greater Sea-spurrey in that it has longer sepals than petals, and that it bears smaller, pinker flowers.

Fruit:

A brown oval pod, up to 6mm long. Many-seeded.

Leaves:

Linear, fleshy leaves, in opposite pairs, up to 4cm long.

Maximum Size:

35 centimetres tall

Other Names:

Salt Sandspurry, Saltmarsh Sand Spurry.

Frequency (UK):

Occasionally seen

Habitats:

Beaches, ditches, roadsides, saltmarshes, seaside.