Sagina
Awl - Pearlwort ( Sagina subulata )
The mast herbs ( Sagina ) are a genus within the family of the Pink Family ( Caryophyllaceae ). The approximately 25 species are distributed almost worldwide.
- 4.1 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
The Pearlwort species are small annual or perennial herbaceous plants, often forming grass. The flower stems are prostrate or ascending. The leaves are opposite and united at the base. The leaf shape is linear or subulate. The blade tip may be a spike tip. The leaf surface is glabrous or ciliate at the edge. Stipules absent.
Generative features
The flowers appear singly or in few-flowered like Asia. The flower stems are thin, usually upright or bent hook shape after anthesis below the cup down and fruit ripening, the stem bends upward again. The hermaphrodite flowers are four - or fünfzählig, usually with a double perianth, rarely missing the petals. The five sepals are free and obtuse, rarely short acuminate. The five petals are entire, and white, often very small and sometimes absent. There are four, five, eight, or ten stamens present. At the bottom they have a nectar gland. Four or five carpels are fused zue an ovoid ovary, just as there are four or five pens.
The fruit capsules are ovate and jump four or fünfklappig on. The fruit valves are dull. The numerous seeds are kidney-shaped dark brown and with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters.
Ecology
The flowers are homogam, protandrisch or protogyn. The opening time ( anthesis ) is usually short, the pollination is done by insects ( Diptera or Apoiden ) or by self-pollination ( autogamy ).
The spread of seeds carried by animals ( endozoochory ) or wind ( Anemochorie ).
System
The genus Sagina was erected in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, p 128. A synonym for Sagina L. Spergella Rchb. The genus belongs to the tribe Sagina Alsineae in the subfamily within the family Caryophyllaceae Alsinoideae.
Worldwide there are about 25 species, of which twelve are native in Europe. In the Mediterranean region and in other parts of Europe the following species occur:
- Sagina boydii F.B.White
- Sagina caespitosa ( J.Vahl ) Long
- Bald Pearlwort ( Sagina glabra ( Willd.) Fenzl )
- Sagina libanotica Rech f
- Beach - Pearlwort ( Sagina maritima Don )
- Sagina melitensis Duthie
- Sagina merinoi Merino
- Sagina nivalis ( Lindblad ) Fr
- Knotted Pearlwort ( Sagina nodosa (L.) Fenzl
- Sagina oxysepala Boiss.
- Sagina pilifera ( DC.) Fenzl
- Low- Lying Pearlwort ( Sagina procumbens L.)
- Sagina pyrenaica Rouy
- Sagina sabuletorum ( J.Gay ) Long
- Alpine Pearlwort ( Sagina saginoides (L.) H.Karst. )
- Awl - Pearlwort ( Sagina subulata ( Sw. ) C.Presl )
The occurring in Central Europe species are:
- Bald Pearlwort ( Sagina glabra ( Willd.) Fenzl ), West Alps, Switzerland
- Beach - Pearlwort ( Sagina maritima G.Don ), along the North and Baltic Sea Upright Pearlwort ( Sagina micropetala Rauschert ), subsp Fischer and Schmeil - Fitschen Sagina apetala. erecta ( Hornem. ) F.Hermann
Other types are (selection):
- Sagina chilensis Gay: It occurs in South America.
- Sagina japonica ( Sw. ) Ohwi: It occurs in Asia and North America.
- Sagina maxima A.Gray: It occurs in eastern Asia, in China and in North America.