Spergularia media var. media
Greater sea-spurrey, Greater Sea-Spurrey
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Spergularia media var. media (Greater sea-spurrey) is a non-native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by stout habit with large winged seeds.
Greater sea-spurrey is a naturalized perennial found in northern central Coast Ranges of Marin and Contra Costa counties, and southern Coast Ranges of Riverside County in salt flats, salt marshes, and sandy beaches at elevations below 2 meters. Flowering from summer to fall, this plant produces white flowers with 9 to 10 stamens in simple or compound inflorescences. Growing as a stout herb with lower main stems 1 to 4 millimeters in diameter, it forms dense clusters with clearly fleshy leaves. Its leaves feature small, dull white deltate stipules, with axillary clusters typically absent. The fruit is 5.5 to 8 millimeters long, producing dark brown seeds generally with a wing-like edge.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; stout habit with large winged seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Salt flats, salt marshes, sandy beaches
Elevation: < 2 m
California counties: Napa, Marin
Outside California: Oregon, eastern North America, South America, native to coastal Europe, Asia, Mediterranean
Bloom period
Spergularia media var. media blooms Summer-fall.
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 media var. media native to California?
No. Spergularia media var. media is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Spergularia media var. media bloom?
Spergularia media var. media blooms Summer-fall.
Where in California does Spergularia media var. media grow?
Spergularia media var. media occurs in Napa, Marin, at elevations of < 2 m.
What plant family does Spergularia media var. media belong to?
Spergularia media var. media is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Spergularia.
What habitat does Spergularia media var. media grow in?
Spergularia media var. media grows in Salt flats, salt marshes, sandy beaches.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.