Spergula morisonii
Rev. Bot. Recueil Mens. 2: 424. 1847.
Plants glabrous or densely pubescent or glandular. Stems often branched proximally, 5–35 cm. Leaf blades usually flat, 0.3–1.5(–2) cm, usually not channeled abaxially. Pedicels erect to ascending, spreading or sometimes reflexed in fruit, sometimes secund. Flowers: sepals 3–4 mm; petals ovate, 2/3–7/8 times as long as sepals in flower, apex obtuse; stamens usually 10. Capsule valves 3.5–6 mm. Seeds winged, lenticular, 0.9–1 mm wide, surface minutely roughened or low-tuberculate (50×), with marginal ring of tan, club-shaped papillae; wings light brown to brownish black, 0.2–0.3 mm wide. 2n = 18 (Europe).
Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: Sandy roadsides, disturbed areas
Elevation: 10-100 m
Distribution
Introduced; Md., Mass., N.J., Europe.
Discussion
Spergula morisonii was first reported for North America from New Jersey in 1966; the earliest collections date from 1917 (D. B. Snyder 1987). It should be expected elsewhere in the flora area; the collections from Maryland and Massachusetts date from 2002 and 2000 respectively, with the Maryland population described as including “thousands of plants” (B. W. Steury 2004).
Selected References
None.