Red Sand Spurrey, Sand spurry
Spergularia rubra

Family: Caryophyllaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It can continue growing for some years. It grows 5-20 cm high. It often lies along the ground. The leaves are 3-10 mm long and 1 mm wide. They are narrow and sword shaped. There are membrane like stipules near the base of the leaves. The flowers are pink and about 5 mm across. They are clustered at the ends of stems. The seeds do not have wings.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in sands, salty soils, forests, shallow watersides at ca. 800 m altitude in China. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, China, Europe, India, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

An emergency or famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arenaria rubra Linnaeus; Arenaria campestris Linnaeus; Spergularia campestris (Linnaeus) Ascherson; Spergula rubra D.Dietr.;