Nicely Branched, and inconspicuous flowers

Post by **MWP admin** » Sun May 27, 2007 8:50 pm

Can't figure out what I have found at an arable field (side lane) at Hal-Farrug (Luqa).

Prostrate, symetrically branched, very hairy, tiny flowers (with yellow anthers). The scarious stipule indicates some Polygonacea ?!

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sun May 27, 2007 10:57 pm

could be Herniaria hirsuta ????

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:06 am

I checked the plant on Haslam and some google images and fits very well. So I think it is Herniaria hirsuta. Thanks pine!

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:59 am

possibly Herniaria cinerea (Illecebraceae) instead of H. hirsuta - difficult to say.

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:00 am

btw: it was in the quiz long tome ago (as hirsuta)

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:09 am

Haslam says that H. cinerea has long stout hairs on the calyx giving a greyish white appearance. The plant in the pics do not look that grey-white.

So can we safely say H. hirsuta ?

PS I searched for "Herniaria" on the forum with no result except this post

Edwin Lanfranco · Post by **Edwin Lanfranco** » Mon May 28, 2007 6:41 pm

It is certainly a Herniaria; can't quite say which

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:20 pm

heh I only thought there was one species in Malta

so is this placed in a new family Jackpot? (Illecebraceae....?: never heard of it!)

Thanks for all.. I tried to find the post that Jackpot posted with no success. I think that it was deleted when there was the problem with the server last year (do you remember?!) .... or that I am not good at searching

Edwin Lanfranco · Post by **Edwin Lanfranco** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:41 pm

I did some homework. The plant is H. hirsuta (sepals with distinct arista at the apex) but plants which are hairier, appearing greyish are sometimes distinguished as H. cinerea. Both forms occur in the Maltese Islands. Most authors consider H. cinerea as just a variant of H. hirsuta.

The sub-family Paronychioideae of the Caryophyllaceae, distinguished by the presence of stipules is sometimes separated as Paronychiaceae or Illecebraceae but is possibly best kept within the Caryophyllaceae

Post by **MWP admin** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:11 pm

Thanks Edwin for the last entry

I can say that the plant was not greyish at all and so opted for Herniaria hirsuta. It was often seen growing with the other member of the Caryophyllaceae - the Polycarpon tetraphylla.

Personally I like the idea of Caryophyllaceae (less work for the website

)

Pine, you reminded me to make a backup!

Tnx to all

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Tue May 29, 2007 8:15 am

yes, I confirm Edwin 100% (even I do not need to confirm cause he is THE expert!).
We found out that there are many opinions in the literature about these 2 taxa, including the change to a violet colour. So, let us say Herniaria hirsuta agg.

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue May 29, 2007 9:01 am

Yes, we Keep it simple.

(PS: yr both experts

)