Citation: J.S. & C. Presl, Fl. Czech. 94 (1819).

Derivation: Derived from Spergula.

Synonymy: Arenaria L. sect. Spergularia Pers., Syn. Pl. 1:504 (1805).

Common name: Sand-spurreys.

Description:
Perennial, biennial or annual herbs occasionally with a woody rootstock; stems ascending or decumbent; leaves linear, decussate, ternate or fasciculate, fleshy; stipules scarious, united in pairs, triangular.

Inflorescences cymes, sometimes raceme-like; flowers 5-merous; sepals free, with scarious margins; petals entire; stamens 10 or fewer; styles 3.

Capsule opening by 3 valves alternate to the sepals; seeds numerous, sometimes winged.

Distribution:  About 40 species throughout the world.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Considerable difficulty has been experienced with the identification of S.Aust. material of this genus and further work is needed. Jacobs and Pickard (1981), Plants of New South Wales, record two unidentified species common to N.S.W. and S.Aust. H. Eichler, Suppl. 144 (1965), recorded S. bocconii (Scheele)Asch. & Graebner but its presence has not been confirmed.

Key to Species:

1. Seeds compressed, winged; sepals over 4 mm long	S. media 3.
1. Seeds angled or convex, not winged; sepals usually under 4 mm long
2. Capsule not longer than sepals; seeds black; sepals 2-3 mm long	S. diandra 1.
2. Capsule usually longer than sepals; seeds usually brown; sepals 3-6 mm long
3. At least some flowers with purple markings at the interception of the sepals; stipules as long as wide	S. marina 2.
3. Flowers all lacking purple markings; stipules longer than wide	S. rubra 4.

Author: Not yet available