Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis
Western sand-spurrey
(c) Mike Zifkin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mike Zifkin · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis (Western sand-spurrey) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by geographic isolation to Humboldt Bay.
Western sand-spurrey is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native annual found in northern coastal California, specifically around Humboldt Bay in salt marshes at elevations below 3 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces delicate white to pink flowers with petals that are small and subtly charming. Growing with slender stems 0.4 to 1.8 millimeters in diameter, it forms a delicate yet resilient presence in its salty habitat. Its fleshy leaves feature small, inconspicuous white-dull stipules with obtuse to acute tips, contributing to its subtle botanical character. The plant produces reddish-brown seeds often featuring subtle wing-like structures, which are minutely glandular-hairy and approximately 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; geographic isolation to Humboldt Bay
Habitat and range
Habitat: Salt marshes
Elevation: < 3 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis blooms Summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Spergula: Spergularia has simple opposite leaves at nodes; Spergula has whorl-like clusters of 16-30 leaves per node.; vs Erodium: Spergularia has tiny pink/white flowers with round capsules; Erodium has purple flowers with long-beaked stork's-bill fruits.; vs Sabulina: Spergularia has fleshy leaves and triangular stipules; Sabulina has thread-like leaves without stipules.; vs Cakile: Spergularia has opposite fleshy leaves with pink flowers; Cakile has alternate fleshy leaves with 4-petaled mustard flowers.; vs Calandrinia: Spergularia has 5 tiny petals and triangular stipules; Calandrinia has 3-7 showy petals and no stipules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis bloom?
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis blooms Summer.
What plant family does Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis belong to?
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Spergularia.
Is Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis rare or endangered?
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis grow in?
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis grows in Salt marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Spergularia macrotheca — Sticky sand-spurrey
- Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha — Sticky sandspurry
- Spergularia macrotheca var. longistyla — Long styled sand spurrey
- Spergularia macrotheca var. macrotheca — Sand spurrey
- Spergularia marina — Saltmarsh sand-spurrey
- Spergularia media var. media — Greater sea-spurrey
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.