46 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
than the sepals ; stamens io ; styles 3 ; capsule oval, slightly longer than the sepals, opening by 3 
teeth, i-celled and many-seeded. Flowering stems 1-5 inches high, erect, with very few leaves; 
the leaves \ inch long, narrow and pointed, strongly 3-veined, growing in tufts and forming a 
cushion. [Plate 25. 
Rare. In mountain pastures and rocky places in Cornwall and northern Britain, Wales and 
Ireland. May — September. Perennial. 
Alpine Sandwort. (Arenaria sulcata, Sehlecht.) — A very similar species to the 
Vernal Sandwort (Arenaria verna), differing in the flowers being smaller, usually solitary, the 
petals shorter than the sepals, the styles and capsule teeth usually 4 and rarely 3 or 5 ; the 
whole plant of a pale yellowish-green colour, more straggling in growth, and the leaves blunt 
and not forming a cushion. 
Very rare. On the summits of a few Scotch mountains. July — August. Perennial. 
Bogr Sandwort. (Arenaria ulig-inosa, Schleich.)— Again very similar to the Vernal 
Sandwort (Arenaria verna), differing in the petals being only as long as the sepals, and the leaves 
threadlike, not 3-veined, and, though growing in tufts, not forming cushions. 
Very rare. Boggy places by a stream in Teesdale, June — July. Perennial. 
Fine-leaved Sandwort. (Arenaria tenuifolia, Linn.)— Flowers small, J inch across, 
numerous, white, in loose forked clusters (dichotomous cymes). Sepals 5, pointed, 3-veined ; 
petals 5, entire, shorter than the sepals; stamens 5, 8 or 10 ; styles 3 ; capsule the same length as 
or a little longer than the sepals, opening at the top by 3 teeth, i-celled and many-seeded. The 
stems 2-8 inches high, very slender, branched, smooth or downy, or with glands above ; and the leaves 
narrow and pointed, 3-5-veined, crowded on the lower, and very few on the upper part of the stem. 
Rare. Old walls and dry places, chiefly in the eastern counties. May— August. Annual. 
Three-nerved Sandwort. (Arenaria trinervia, Linn.)— Flowers J inch across, white, 
solitary on long stalks in the axils of the leaves, forming forked clusters (dichotomous cymes). 
Sepals 5, pointed, 3-veined, the central vein hairy ; petals 5, entire, shorter than the sepals ; 
stamens 10; styles 3; capsule oval, shorter than the sepals, opening at the top by 6 teeth 
i-celled and many-seeded. The stems 3-18 inches long, branching at the base, weak and 
downy; and the leaves egg-shaped and pointed, 3-veined, thin, and of a light green, the lower 
ones stalked, the upper stalkless. In general appearance like the Common Chickweed in growth, 
but at once distinguished by its undivided petals. 
Common. Damp woods and shady places. May — June. Annual. 
Thyme-leaved Sandwort. (Arenaria serpyllifolia, Linn.)— Flowers J inch across, 
numerous, white, in forked clusters (dichotomous cymes). Sepals 5, pointed, with 3 hairy veins ; 
petals 5, entire, shorter than the sepals; stamens 10 ; styles 3 ; capsule egg-shaped, as long as or 
slightly longer than the sepals, opening at the top by 6 teeth. The stems 2-12 inches long, much 
branched, spreading, slender but strong ; and the leaves very small, egg-shaped and pointed, 
stalkless, 1-3 veined. [Plate 25. 
Common. On walls and dry places. J une — August. Annual. 
Fringed Sandwort. (Arenaria ciliata, Linn.) — Flowers large, nearly £ inch across, 
white, few, nearly solitary, the petals much longer than the sepals, and the egg-shaped downy 
leaves fringed with hairs. 
Very rare. Limestone mountains in Co. Sligo. June — July. Perennial. 
Norwegian Sandwort. (Arenaria norvegica, Gunn.) — Differing from the last mainly 
in being smooth instead of downy, and the leaves being fleshy and not fringed with hairs. 
Very rare. Shetland and Orkney Isles. July — August. Perennial. 
