CARYOPHYLLACE.E PINK FAMILY 



Spergularia rubra, Presl. 

 Crimson-pink Sand-spurry, 



Purple Sandwort, 

 June-September Red Sandwort. 



Spergularia: a derivative of Spergula, which see for 



derivation. 

 Rubra: Latin for red. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: sandy places. 



THE PLANT: prostrate or partially erect, two inches to 

 six inches high; the stem slender, hairless or with soft, 

 short hairs. 



THE LEAVES : opposite ; often clustered in the axils ; linear ; one 

 half inch long or less ; scarcely fleshy ; acute at the apex ; entire. 



THE FLOWERS: very small, solitary in the axils, bright 

 pink to light purple. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



A seemingly insignificant weed or weeds (for they grow 

 in such dense clumps), small-leaved and lying almost flat 

 on the ground, but having crimson-pink flowers that de- 

 mand attention. 



CARYOPHYLLACE^E PINK FAMILY 



Spergula arvensis, L. 



White Corn-spurry, Poverty-weed, 



Cow-quake, Sandweed, 



Summer Pink-purse, Spurry, 



Pine-cheat, Yarr. 



Spergula: from Latin to scatter, because the plant turns 

 its capsules upside down to disperse the ripe seed. 



Arvensis: Latin, belonging in a field. 



84 



