Sagina japonica
Sagina subulata
Japanese pearlwort, sagine du japon
awl-leaf pearlwort, Scottish moss
ascending to spreading, much-branched, usually filiform, frequently glandular-pubescent distally.
ascending or decumbent, few-branched, not filiform, densely glandular-pubescent, or less frequently glabrous; horizontal stems becoming slightly woody with extensive mat formation.
axillary fascicles rarely present;
basal frequently in tuft of ascending leaves, rosette rarely present, blade linear, 4–10 mm, succulent, apex apiculate, glabrous;
cauline leaves conspicuously connate basally, forming shallow, scarious cup, blade linear, fleshy, apex apiculate, glabrous or rarely pubescent;
proximal leaf blades 9–20 mm, becoming shorter distally, 4–7 mm.
axillary fascicles absent;
basal forming tufts, blade linear, curled inward, 3–12 mm, not fleshy, apex long-aristate, aristae equaling or exceeding leaf width, densely glandular-pubescent, or with glandular hairs restricted to margins, and then often minutely glandular-ciliate, rarely glabrous;
cauline connate basally, forming conspicuous cup, blade linear-subulate, 3–10 mm, scarious.
slender, distal portion densely glandular-pubescent, becoming less densely glandular-pubescent proximally, proximal 1/4 usually glabrous.
filiform, densely to weakly glandular-pubescent.
axillary, 5-merous;
calyx glandular-pubescent basally;
sepals elliptic to orbiculate, 2–2.5 mm, hyaline margins whitish, apex obtuse to rounded, glandular-pubescent, remaining appressed following capsule dehiscence;
petals ovate to orbiculate, 1–2 mm, shorter than sepals;
stamens 5 or 10.
axillary or terminal, usually solitary, 5-merous, rarely 4- and 5-merous;
calyx bases glandular-pubescent;
sepals elliptic, 1.5–2 mm, hyaline margins white, apex obtuse to rounded, glandular-pubescent, remaining appressed following capsule dehiscence;
petals elliptic, 1.5–2 mm, shorter than or equaling sepals;
stamens (8 or) 10.
2.5–3 mm, exceeding sepals, dehiscing ca. 1/4 length.
2–3(–3.5) mm, slightly longer than sepals, dehiscing to base.
dark brown, reniform to nearly globose, plump, abaxial groove absent, 0.4–0.5 mm, densely tuberculate or strongly pebbled (e North America).
brown, obliquely triangular with abaxial groove, 0.4(–0.5) mm, smooth.
Sagina japonica
Sagina subulata
Sagina japonica was recently introduced in widely scattered locations in northeastern North America, and can be found especially in gravelly roadsides, walkways, and driveways. The plants tend to be much less robust and without distinctly succulent leaves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Three specimens from the alpine zone of Steens Mountain, Harney County, are referable to Sagina subulata. Introduction of the species into that remote area is without explanation.
A strongly mat-forming cultivar of Sagina subulata is sometimes grown as a ground cover; plants flower profusely, but no subsequent capsule development typically occurs. The cultivar differs from the native European mat-forming plants by being glabrous except for the minutely glandular-ciliate leaf margins. Occasional waifs have been collected in the San Francisco area of California.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
BC
OR
Flora NW
Go Botany
IL Wildflowers
PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
CA
