60 FARM WEEDS OF CANADA 



a matter oi common observation that all the members of this large 

 family possess a pungent flavour objectionable to all classes of 

 live stock, and the presence of the plants, either in pastures or 

 in cured fodder, entails considerable waste. Definite informa- 

 tion as to the baneful effects, if any, resulting from the consump- 

 tion of the plants or the seeds is not available, although it is 

 known that wheat screenings, composed largely of cockle seeds, 

 are ground with coarser grains and sold as feeding stuffs. 



SPURREY (Spergula arvensis L.). 



Other English names: Corn Spurrey, Sandweed, Pickpurse. 



Introduced from Europe. Annual. Stems curving up- 

 ward, branching from the base, 6 to 18 inches high, almost smooth, 

 sparingly hairy above. Leaves narrowly linear, 1 to 2 inches 

 long, apparently in a circle around the joints of the stem but 

 really in two opposite sets of 6 to 8 together, with scale-like, 

 modified leaves between them. Flowers white, opening in sun- 

 shine, 1/4 inch across, in terminal forked cymes; the fruit hanging 

 abruptly downward. 



The seed (Plate 72, fig. 16) is dull black, lens-shaped or round 

 and compressed, with the margin extended into a narrow pale 

 wing. The surface is more or less roughened with small, pale- 

 coloured, elongated protuberances, like gland-tipped hairs. 

 Both the small protuberances and the wing are sometimes absent 

 when the seeds occur among commercial seeds. 



Time of flowering: July; seed ripe July-August. 



Propagation: By seeds. 



Occurrence: Frequent in grain fields in the eastern provin- 

 ces and in parts of British Columbia and occasional in fields and 



