Spergularia sp.
Sand-spurrey, Sand-Spurrey
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Spergularia sp. (Sand-spurrey) is a non-native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Spergularia sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Spergularia sp. belong to?
Spergularia sp. is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Spergularia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Spergularia villosa — Hairy sand-spurrey
- Spergularia atrosperma — Black seed sand-spurrey
- Spergularia bocconi — Boccone's sand-spurrey
- Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis — Western sand-spurrey
- Spergularia macrotheca — Sticky sand-spurrey
- Spergularia macrotheca var. leucantha — Sticky sandspurry
- Stellaria borealis subsp. sitchana — Sitka starwort
- Stellaria calycantha — Northern starwort
- Stellaria crispa — Crisp starwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.