Spergularia bocconei (Scheele) Graebner

Spice Flower In the field

Family: CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Genus: Spergularia

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte. Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Rocky coastlines. Disturbed zones, road sides, usually near the coast.

Characteristics: A small prostrate herbaceous plant, not very attractive to the eye and with stems to 30 cm. The leaves are elongated, narrow, pointy and slightly fleshy. Flowers are solitary and pendunculate with sepals; these with a hyaline margin, pilose, obtuse, more or less as long as the petals and intercalated between themselves. Differs from the rest of the Spergularias mainly for: stipules broadly triangular yet not acuminate, and its pale earth toned and wingless seeds.

Observations: An identification key is necessary to correctly identify all of the Spergularia species.