SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ARENARIA LEPTOCLADOS
Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE/Subgen. ARENARIA
Common Name:- Slender sandwort
Homotypic Synonyms:- Arenaria serpyllifolia var. leptoclados, Arenaria
serpyllifolia subsp. leptoclados
Meaning:- Arenaria (L) Sand-dweller.
Leptoclados (Gr) With slender roots.
General description:- A relatively robust. Feeling rough to the touch (scabrid)
minutely hairy (puberulent) annual, sometimes biennial or perennial.
Stems:-
1) 2-30 cm, usually profusely branched at the base, ascending or erect.
Leaves:-
1) 2·5-8 mm, broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 3- to 5-veined.
a) lower, petiolate.
b) upper, sessile.
Flowers:-
1) Cymes, diffuse or dense dichasia, with lateral branches on both sides of the
main axis.
a) pedicels, usually longer than the sepals.
2) Sepals, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, acute, 3- to 5-veined, the inner with scarious
margins, the central green part usually being 1/3-1/2 the width of the sepals.
3) Petals, not more than 2/3 as long as the sepals, white.
Fruit:-
1) Capsule, ovoid-conical or subovoid-cylindrical, less than twice as long as wide.
2) Seeds, 0·3-0·7 mm.
Key features:-
1) Petals, distinctly shorter than the sepals not more than 2/3 as long.
2) Leaves, scabrid puberulent, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3- to 5-veined.
3) Sepals, 2-3 mm with 3-5 veins.
4) Seeds, 0·3-0·7 mm.
5) Capsule, subovoid-cylindrical, not swollen at the base, shorter than or equalling
the sepals.
Habitat:- In a variety of dry open habitats 0-1100(-1800) m.
Distribution:- Common and widespread throughout the Mediterranean region and
SW Asia, scattered in C Europe. Widespread and common on Crete.
Flowering time:- Late Mar-June
Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis
