Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario Weeds: Thyme-leaved sandwort

Table of Contents

1. Name
2. Other Names
3. Family
4. General Description
   • Photos and Pictures
5. Stems and Roots
6. Leaves
7. Flowers and Fruit
8. Habitat
9. Similar Species
10. Related Links

Name: Thyme-leaved sandwort, Arenaria serphyllifolia L.,

Other Names: Sandwort, sabline à feuilles de serpolet, sabline à feuilles de thym

Family: Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae)

General Description: Annual or more frequently winter annual, reproducing only by seed.

Photos and Pictures

Stems & Roots: Stems - erect, usually much-branched from near the base, 5-25cm (2-10in.) high, covered with very short inward-curved or nearly flat-lying hair which gives a somewhat rough texture and a bluish-green colour.

Leaves: Small, opposite (2 per node), stalkless, slightly rough-hairy, ovate with a pointed tip, 4-8mm (1/6-1/3in.) long and usually shorter than the length of stem between pairs;

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers very small, 2-3mm (1/12-1/8in.) long, greenish (the tiny white petals too small to show), on very slender stalks up to 10mm (2/5in.) long in branching inflorescences; seedpod ovoid, about 3mm (1/8in.) long, opening at the tip and releasing many, extremely fine (0.5mm, 1/50in. in diameter) seeds. Flowers from late spring to late summer but is dry, shriveled, and virtually gone by fall at which time the tiny new seedlings are appearing.

Habitat: Thyme-leaved sandwort occurs throughout Ontario in dry sandy soils. It is most common in fall rye and winter wheat where its winter annual habit is an advantage; but it also occurs in spring-sown crops, gardens, roadsides, orchards, sandy beaches and in rocky places.

Similar Species: It is distinguished by its bluish-green appearance, very small leaves, slightly rough stems and leaves, and tiny greenish flowers.

Related Links

... on general Weed topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control

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