48 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Annual Pearl-wort. (Sagina apetala, Linn.)— Another similar plant to the 
Procumbent Pearl-wort (Sagina procumbens), with 4 sepals, stamens, styles and capsule teeth, no 
petals, slightly hairy stems, and narrower leaves tapering to a point. \Plate 25. 
Very common. Garden walks, walls and dry places. May — September. Annual. 
Ciliate Pearl-wort. (Sagina ciliata, Fries.) — Another similar plant to the Procumbent 
Pearl-wort (Sagina procumbens), with 4 sepals, petals, stamens, styles and capsule teeth, the petals 
sometimes absent, the sepals abruptly pointed and pressed close to the fruit, and the leaves fringed 
with hairs. The whole plant almost without hairs and of a pale yellowish-green. 
Common. Heaths and dry places, walls and garden walks. May — July. Annual. 
Braemar Pearl-wort. (Sagina Boydii, F. B. White.) — Another similar plant to the 
Procumbent Pearl-wort (Sagina procumbens). Differing in having the petals always absent, the 
capsules round with erect sepals, and the leaves densely tufted, forming a cushion. 
Very rare. In dry places at Braemar. May — July. Perennial. 
Alpine Pearl-wort. (Sagina Linnsei, Presl.) — A very similar species to the Procumbent 
Pearl-wort (Sagina procumbens), differing in having larger flowers, always with 5 sepals, 5 petals 
almost as long as the sepals, 10 stamens, 5 styles which are erect in fruit, the sepals pressed close 
to the capsule, which opens by 5 tapering teeth, and the narrow leaves abruptly pointed. 
Rare. Rocks and stony places on Highland mountains. June — August. Perennial. 
Snow Pearl-wort. (Sagina nivalis, Fries.)— A similar species to the Alpine Pearl-wort 
(Sagina Linnaei). Differing in having smaller petals, capsules longer than the sepals, shorter 
stems, and the leaves, which are more tapering, growing in tufts. 
Very rare. Rocks on Highland mountains. June — August. Perennial. 
Awl-shaped Pearl-wort. (Sagina subulata, Presl.) — Another similar species to the 
Alpine Pearl-wort (Sagina Linnaei), differing in having the flowers usually solitary on long stalks, 
the sepals and capsules with a few gland-tipped hairs, the flowering stems 2-5 inches high, and the 
leaves tapering to a point and in tufts. 
Not uncommon. On dry, sandy places and heaths. June — August. Perennial. 
Knotted Spurrey. (Sagina nodosa, Fenzl.) — Flowers large, \ inch across, white, 
1-3 in loose terminal clusters (cymes). Sepals 5, blunt ; petals 5, about twice as long as the 
sepals ; stamens 10 ; styles 5 ; capsule oval, a little longer than the sepals, opening from top to 
base by 5 teeth. The stems 3-4 inches high, numerous, smooth or with gland-tipped hairs ; and 
the leaves narrow, opposite, united at the base, abruptly pointed, with little clusters of minute 
leaves in the axils. [ Plate 25. 
Not uncommon. In wet, sandy places. July — August. Perennial. 
SPURREY. (SPERGULA, LINN. ) — Flowers white, in terminal forked clusters (dichotomous 
cymes). Sepals 5 ; petals 5, entire; stamens 10, rarely 5 or 4 ; carpels 5, united into a i-celled 
seedcase and separating into 5 styles. Fruit an oval, many-seeded capsule, opening from top to 
base by 5 teeth with such force as to scatter the seeds abroad. Herbs with abruptly bent stems, 
much swollen joints, and numerous, narrow, thread-like leaves arranged in opposite clusters, 
forming a circle round each joint (whorls), and with small membranous stipules between the 
leaves. 
Corn Spurrey. (Spergula arvensis, Linn.) — The only British species (as just 
described). The flowers \ inch across, numerous, on slender stalks which bend down in fruit ; 
the stems 6-18 inches high, much branched from the base, with gland-tipped hairs, and many 
knee-like bends ; and the narrow leaves fleshy. [ Plate 2 5. 
Very common. Cultivated fields, especially on a light soil. June — September. Annual. 
