Family |
Caryophyllaceae
Herniaria glabra
L.
Herniaria glabra L.
(Sp. Pl.: 218; 1753 – Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, Pl. CLXXXVI nº 4; 1969)
• Life-form & habit: Low, mat-forming annual or short-lived perennial herb, 2–15 cm tall, with slender, much-branched prostrate stems forming dense green patches. Stems glabrous or sparsely pubescent, rooting at the lower nodes.
• Leaves: Opposite, sessile, oblong to elliptic, 3–8 × 1–3 mm, entire, glabrous or with minute marginal hairs, apex obtuse; stipules small, membranous, adnate to the petiole.
• Inflorescence & flowers: Small axillary clusters of 3–8 inconspicuous greenish flowers. Perianth segments 5, ovate, obtuse, persistent, slightly keeled. Stamens 5, alternating with as many staminodes; ovary superior, styles 2.
• Fruit: Capsule minute, ovoid, 1–1.5 mm long, containing 1–2 smooth, shiny brown seeds.
• Phenology: Flowers and fruits from March to September, depending on elevation and humidity.
• Habitat & elevation: Sandy and gravelly soils, roadsides, dry pastures, fallow fields, and rocky slopes, from sea level to about 2 000 m. Prefers dry, well-drained, calcareous or siliceous substrates.
• Lebanese distribution: Reported by Mouterde from the Beqaa Valley and Mount Lebanon foothills — notably Zahlé, Dahr el-Baïdar, and Barouk; scattered in dry, disturbed sites and pathsides.
• Native range: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, China South-Central, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sicilia, Sinai, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Siberia, Xinjiang (POWO).
• Introduced into: Colorado, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North European Russia, Norway, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Québec, Utah (POWO).
• ⚠️ Taxonomic note: A polymorphic and cosmopolitan species of the Caryophyllaceae, easily recognised by its minute green flowers, creeping habit, and smooth stems. Sometimes divided into several subspecies (subsp. glabra, subsp. cinerea) based on pubescence and leaf size. In Lebanon, H. glabra occurs sporadically in dry, compacted soils and disturbed ruderal habitats.