Sagina maritima G. Don

Family: CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Genus: Sagina

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Therophytic calicole fields. Coastal zones.

Characteristics: Sagina maritima is a small dark green plant, with linear leaves and tiny flowers at the tip of the stems; the basal leaves are often larger, forming a kind of rosette. The flowers have four sepals that open out in a cross when bearing fruit. The plants may have an erect bearing or may grow along the ground. It is very similar to Sagina apetala, but it can be quickly distinguished because the leaves do not have an awn at their tip. It flower during winter and spring.