Thyme-leaved sandwort is a tiny weedy annual from Eurasia, now found in most U.S. states on roadsides, lawns, and sandy or gravelly waste ground. Its white flowers are only about 1/6–1/4 inch (4–6 mm) across, with hairy pointed that are usually longer than the petals.
Appearance
- Growth form
- Low annual 2–16 in (5–40 cm) tall, with many branching stems from the base. Plants can stand upright or sprawl into a tangled mat.
- Leaves
- Opposite, stalkless, egg-shaped leaves about 1/4–1/3 in (6–8 mm) long, with sharp tips.
- Flowers
- White flowers about 1/6–1/4 in (4–6 mm) wide, with 5 unnotched petals, 10 stamens, and 3 styles. The 5 hairy, long-pointed sepals usually stick out past the petals.
- Flowering time
- May through September in Minnesota.
- Fruit
- A light brown, flask-shaped about 1/8 in (3 mm) long that opens with 6 teeth, holding 10–15 small black seeds.
Look-alikes
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- roadsides
- lawns
- fields
- waste areas
- Range
- Native to Eurasia and introduced across North America. It's easy to overlook because it's small and grows among other weeds.
- Preferred conditions
- Sun to part shade, in disturbed sandy or gravelly soil.
- Flowering
Flowers May–Sep
Flowers May–Sep
Name and classification
- About the name
- The common form found in most states is var. serpyllifolia. A more slender plant of the Southeast is sometimes called var. tenuior, but many references treat it as its own species, lesser thyme-leaved sandwort (Arenaria leptoclados).
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.