Spergularia macrotheca var. longistyla

Long styled sand spurrey

Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Long styled sand spurrey is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in northern California Coast Ranges and the Great Valley in alkaline marshes, mud flats, meadows, and hot springs at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering in spring, this plant produces delicate white flowers with petals nestled in calyx lobes 5 to 5.5 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms low, sprawling clusters in wet, mineral-rich environments. Its leaves and stems create a fine, intricate mat with compact growth that allows the plant to thrive in challenging alkaline landscapes. The tiny seeds, measuring 0.8 to 1.2 millimeters, are produced in fruit slightly larger than the original calyx.

Habitat: Alkaline marshes, mud flats, meadows, hot springs

Bloom period: Spring

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: NCoRI, GV.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.