Spergula arvensis

Acker - Spark ( Spergula arvensis)

The field - Spark ( Spergula arvensis ), also called field - Spörgel, is a flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae ( Caryophyllaceae ).

• 6.1 Notes and references

Description

Appearance and leaf

The field - Spark grows as overwintering green, annual herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of 10 to 50 centimeters. It is rooted deep to 50 cm. The aboveground plant parts are scattered glandular hairs, rarely completely bald. The leaves are opposite, with short shoots they are close together and have a lively sparkle. The linear - pfriemlichen leaf blades are curved upper side and lower side they have a longitudinal furrow.

Inflorescence, flower, fruit and seeds

The flowering period extends from June to September. In a paniculate inflorescence long -stalked flowers are together. The hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry and fünfzählig double perianth. The five free sepals are about 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, obtuse rounded and hairy glandular. The five free, white petals are usually as long as or slightly longer than the sepals, with a length of 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters. There are usually ten stamens present.

The fruit stalks are beaten back. In the upright, 4-6 mm long, fünfklappige capsule fruits the deep flaps bend in the dry and mature state outward. The seeds are globose - lenticular, black, dull and very narrow winged (not exceeding 0.2 mm wide). The seeds have club-like papillae and are rich in fatty oil.

Ecology

The field - Spark is a summer annual plant, a Therophyt.

Ecologically flowers is " nectar leading disk flowers ". The nectar is secreted half hidden at the base of the stamens. The flowers are only open when the sun shines. Pollinators are Diptera and Hymenoptera. In cold weather and the blossoming of self-pollination is done by the anthers to the stigma tend toward you. The flowers are pointing down after anthesis.

There is animal propagation, wind spread as a disk plane and people spread as a cultural companion. The fruit ripens from July to August and takes place early as 8 weeks after germination. The seeds are viable for long.

Occurrence

Spergula arvensis is very common nowadays virtually worldwide in the temperate zones. In Austria, the field - Spark comes in part common. In many places - such as in the western Alps - it is, however, to find rare or even endangered. In Switzerland it is found in many parts of the colline and montane. The field - Spark comes in Germany before disseminated and often.

The field - Spark grows in arable weed corridors, chopped fields, but also in waste places in the forest or shock. He prefers fresh, nutrient-rich, lime -and base- poor, moderately acidic, humus-rich, loose sandy soil. The field - Spark is an acidifying Gazette.

System

The first publication of Spergula arvensis was in 1753 by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, Volume 1, Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, p 440

This species is quite varied and is divided into several sub- species or varieties.

Use

Some forms are also cultured and prepared as a vegetable plant similar to spinach.