Sagina decumbens subsp. decumbens
Leaves: basal rosette-forming in winter-annual plants, absent later. Sepals ovate, hyaline margins or apex frequently purple. Seeds light tan, with delicate reticulate ridge pattern (50–80×), smooth or pebbled to strongly tuberculate. 2n = 36.
Phenology: Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat: Moist or dryish sandy places, field margins, open pine woods, paths, roadsides, sidewalk cracks, lawns
Elevation: 0-500 m
Distribution
Que., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va.
Discussion
Specimens of subsp. decumbens from Alberta, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Arizona represent historical collections that apparently did not persist.
Subspecies decumbens is extremely variable. A slender, nearly apetalous variation with a greater frequency of 4-merous flowers has previously been recognized as var. smithii; the range of variability is continuous and it seems best to consider the material as a single taxon.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"dehiscing" is not a number.