Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha
Sticky sandspurry
Photo: parent species Spergularia macrotheca · (c) mel letterman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha (Sticky sandspurry) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by perennial habit with white flowers diagnostic.
Sticky sandspurry is a California native perennial found in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern California Coast, and Mojave Desert in alkaline soils, floodplains, vernal pools, and marshy ground at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate white flowers with petals nestled in calyces 4.5 to 5.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in wet, saline environments. Its small leaves are densely clustered, creating a fine, intricate texture across the plant's low-growing form. The fruits are slightly longer than the calyx, containing tiny seeds approximately 0.7 to 0.8 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; perennial habit with white flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alkaline soils, floodplains, vernal pools, meadows, marshy ground
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Riverside, Fresno, Kern, Merced, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo, Glenn, Yuba, Contra Costa, Napa, Los Angeles, Kings, Colusa, Alameda, San Diego, Madera, Monterey, Santa Cruz
Bloom period
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha blooms Apr-Jun.
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 macrotheca var. leucantha native to California?
Yes. Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha bloom?
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha grow?
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha occurs in Riverside, Fresno, Kern, Merced, Orange, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Solano and other counties, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha belong to?
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Spergularia.
What habitat does Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha grow in?
Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha grows in Alkaline soils, floodplains, vernal pools, meadows, marshy ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- 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
- Spergularia platensis var. platensis — La plata sand-spurrey
- Spergularia rubra — Red sand-spurrey
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.