Copy permalink to share

Sagina decumbens (Elliott) Torrey & A. Gray ssp. decumbens . Common name: Eastern Pearlwort, Annual Pearlwort. Phenology: Feb-Jul. Habitat: Disturbed ground, fields, cracks in pavement or sidewalks. Distribution: NB west to IL and MO, south to c. peninsular FL and TX, with adventive occurrences farther west.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Crow (1978) and Crow in FNA (2005) treated S. decumbens and S. occidentalis S. Watson of the Pacific Coast of North America as subspecies. They differ primarily in seed architecture. Though clearly closely related, they seem equally well (and more simply) regarded as sibling species. A report of S. subulata (Swartz) C. Presl for Bedford County, VA, is apparently actually S. decumbens.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, FNA5, GrPl, K4, NE, Crow (1978); Spergula decumbens Elliott < Sagina decumbens (Elliott) Torr. & A.Gray — C, F, Fl4, G, Il, NcTx, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Atha, Alvarez, & Chaya (2018). Basionym: Spergula decumbens Elliott 1821

Links to other floras: = Sagina decumbens ssp. decumbens - FNA5

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 9

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something wrong or missing on about Sagina decumbens ssp. decumbens? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.


Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect to ascending annual of disturbed ground, fields and cracks in pavement.

Stems: Stems slender, tufted, simple or slightly branched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, pairs joined at the base where they encircle the stem, linear, to 1/2 in. long, bristle-tipped, smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers on thread-like stalks in loose raceme-like clusters at top of stem and from leaf axils; white; consisting of 5 spreading thin petals, 5 sepals shorter than and visible between the petals, 3-10 stamens and a green ovary with 3 stigmas.

Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.

Comments:

Height: 1-6 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect to ascending annual of disturbed ground, fields and cracks in pavement.

stems: Stems slender, tufted, simple or slightly branched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, pairs joined at the base where they encircle the stem, linear, to 1/2 in. long, bristle-tipped, smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers on thread-like stalks in loose raceme-like clusters at top of stem and from leaf axils; white; consisting of 5 spreading thin petals, 5 sepals shorter than and visible between the petals, 3-10 stamens and a green ovary with 3 stigmas.

fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



0 unsaved edits on this page.