Spergula arvensis L.
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

Spergula sativa Boenn.

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

corn spurrey, stickwort

Primary Disseminule Type

seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a single-chambered, 5-valved, straw-colored to pale brown, ovoid capsule 4–6 mm long.

Seed round to oval in outline, somewhat laterally compressed, lens-shaped (biconvex) with a narrow (0.1 mm wide) pale-colored marginal wing, 1–1.5(2) mm diameter x 0.7–1 mm thick. Surface dull, gray to black, rough (cells with low, stelliform papillae), sometimes covered with long, pale brown, club-shaped papillae.

Hilum in marginal notch, nondescript.

Embryo peripheral, spirally curved around the hard, semi-transparent perisperm.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI