Thyme-leaved Sandwort - Arenaria serpyllifolia

Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Arenaria serpyllifolia L.

Family: Caryophyllaceae, Pink
Genus: Arenaria

Description
General: annual, with very short, rough, backward-directed
hairs, often becoming glandular above. Stems 1 to several,
slender, erect or ascending, simple to freely branched,
10-30 cm tall.

Leaves: opposite, ovate to lanceolate, much shorter than
the internodes, 3-7 mm long, 1.5-4 mm broad, 3 (5)-nerved,
needle-shaped, sharply pointed, at least the lower ones
abruptly short-stalked and slightly united at bases,
sometimes dotted with minute pimples.

Flowers: usually several, borne in typically open, diffuse
clusters with leafy bracts. Flower stalks almost thread-like,
1-4 times as long as the flowers. Sepals lanceolate, sharp-
pointed, about 3 mm long. Petals about 2/3 as long as the
sepals. Disc tiny with 3 styles.
Flowering time: May-July.

Fruits: capsule ovoid- to pear-shaped, about equalling
or slightly exceeding the calyx, 6-valved. Seeds grayish-
purple, 0.5 mm long, covered with warty lumps in a
checkered pattern in concentric rows.

Distribution
Dry to moist, barren or sandy to grassy or wooded areas, in
n.w and s.c. parts of MT. A widespread Eurasian species
throughout much of temperate N. America, often weedy.

Edible and medicinal plant: see below.

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Contents
Identification
English Names Index
Scientific Names Index
Family Index

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Edible Uses:
The entire plant can be used as a pot-herb.

Medicinal Uses:
The plant has agents that prevent or relieve cough, tend to purify and cleanse the blood, induce urination and that are fever-reducing. A decoction of the leaves has been used in the treatment of dysentery. It has also been used in the treatment of bladder complaints, calculus troubles and acute and chronic cystitis.