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Species
Sagina procumbens L.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Xinjiang [Afghanistan, N India (Darjiling), Philippines, Russia, ?Sikkim; W Asia, Europe].
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=220011873 |
The preference is light shade to full sun and rather moist conditions during the spring. Rocky or sandy soil is preferred as this reduces competition from other plants. Most vegetative growth occurs during the spring while the weather is moist and cool. This plant can survive a limited amount of trampling, but flourishes better without it.
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/pr_pearlwort.htm |
introduced; Greenland; St. Pierre and Miquelon; B.C., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.; Alaska, Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Idaho, Ill., Iowa, Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., R.I., Utah, Vt., Wash., W.Va., Wis.; Europe; introduced in Mexico (Chiapas, México), Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala), s South America (Bolivia, s Argentina), Asia (w Siberia), Antarctica (sub-Antarctic Islands).
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220011873 |
Sagina procumbens is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common name procumbent pearlwort[1] and birdeye pearlwort. It can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and parts of South America. It is a common weed of many environments. It can be found in wild and disturbed habitat, especially moist areas. It can sometimes be seen growing in lawns or in cracks in the sidewalk. This is a perennial herb forming clumps or mats of hairless green herbage, sometimes vaguely resembling a patch of moss. The leaves are linear and up to 1 or 2 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a solitary flower with four or five sepals and four or five small white petals, but the petals are sometimes absent.
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As an invasive species[edit]
In 1998 numerous well-developed plants were found on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gough Island where it is an introduced species. Given the island's remoteness seeds were most likely introduced from visitors' footwear and/or clothing. Without control the plant will very likely transform the ecosystem of the island's uplands - as it has already done on the Prince Edward Islands where it has spread at a rate of 100m to 300m per year and is now considered beyond control. [2] Eradication programs on Gough Island are ongoing and are expected to require years of 'concerted effort'. [3]
Role in myths, magic and legends of Great Britain[edit]
It is said to have been the first plant on which Christ set his foot when he came to Earth, or when he rose from the dead. In the highlands of Scotland it was supposed to have derived supernatural powers from having been blessed by Christ, St Bride and St Columba. A spray of it hung from the door lintel gave protection against fairies, especially those who made a practise of spiriting people away. If pearlwort were stuck in a bull's fore-hooves, the cows with which it mated and the calves and the milk they produced were safeguarded from ills. If a cow ate the herb, it's calves and milk, and all who drank the milk, were also protected against fairies. For the young village maiden, pearlwort brought a bonus. If drunk in an infusion, or used merely to wet the lips, it would attract her favoured lover, and if a piece of it were in the girl's mouth when she kissed him, he was bound to her for ever.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "BSBI List 2007" (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Cooper, J. et al., "Earth, fire and water: applying novel techniques to eradicate the invasive plant, procumbent pearlwort Sagina procumbenss, on Gough Island, a World heritage Site in the South Atlantic", Invasive Species Specialist Group, 2010, Retrieved on 12 February 2014.
- ^ Bisser, P. et al., "Strategies to eradicate the invasive plant procumbent pearlwort Sagina procumbens on Gough Island, 2010", Retrieved on 12 February 2014.
- ^ Reader's Digest Nature Lover's Library, Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Britain, Editor Michael W. Davison, Art Editor Neal V. Martin, The Reader's Digest Association Limited, 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E144HE, Reprint 2001, ISBN 0 276 42506 5.
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Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sagina_procumbens&oldid=648061638 |
Chile Central
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Rights holder/Author | Pablo Gutierrez, IABIN |
Source | No source database. |
Plants perennial, often mat-forming, glabrous. Stems as-cending or, more frequently, procumbent, rooting at nodes, giving rise to secondary tufts or rosettes, few- to many-branched, slender. Leaves: axillary fascicles often present on procumbent stems; basal frequently in primary rosettes in younger plants; blade linear, 8-17 mm, herbaceous, apex apiculate to somewhat aristate, glabrous; cauline not conspicuously connate basally, never forming an inflated cup, blade linear, 4-15 mm proximally, becoming shorter toward apex, 2.5-6 mm distally, sometimes slightly fleshy, apex apiculate to aristate, rarely with minute glandular cilia. Pedicels frequently recurved during capsule development, filiform, glabrous. Flowers axillary or terminal, 4-merous, occasionally 4- and 5-merous; calyx base glabrous; sepals elliptic to orbiculate, 1.5-(-2.5) mm, hyaline margins white, never purple tinged, apex obtuse to rounded, appressed during capsular development, divergent following dehiscence; petals (1-)4(-5), orbiculate to elliptic, 0.8-1(-1.5) mm, shorter than or equaling sepals, or sometimes absent; stamens 4 (8). Capsules (1.5-)2-2.5(-3) mm, slightly exceeding sepals, dehiscing to base. Seeds brown, obliquely triangular with distinct abaxial groove, (0.3-)0.4(-0.5) mm, smooth to pebbled. 2n = 22.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220011873 |
Herbs perennial. Stems ascending or procumbent, 3--10 cm tall, slender, branched, glabrous. Leaves linear, 2--10 × 1--2 mm, shortly aristate, glabrous or ciliate. Flower solitary, terminal or axillary. Pedicel recurved after anthesis, erect in fruit, slender. Sepals 4, broadly ovate, 1.5--2 mm, margin white, apex obtuse. Petals 4, ovate, shorter than sepals. Stamens 4 (rarely 8). Styles 4. Capsule ovoid, longer than sepals, 4-valved. Seeds black-brown, triangular, grooved, smooth. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep--Oct. 2n = 22.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=220011873 |
Sagina procumbens var. compacta Lange
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Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220011873 |
Procumbent Pearlwort occurs occasionally in NE Illinois; it is rare or absent elsewhere. This species has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in both North America and Eurasia as a native plant. In North America, Illinois is located along the southern boundary of the range for this species. Habitats include sandy ridges in open woodlands, rocky open ground, and cracks between bricks and patio blocks. It can be found in either natural or disturbed areas where there is scant vegetation on the ground.
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/pr_pearlwort.htm |
Weedy, wet or damp, gravelly or sandy soils along roadsides, sidewalk cracks, margins of paths or lawns, pond and lake margins, coastal rocks and sands, sea cliffs; 0-3500m.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220011873 |