Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Caryophyllaceae ⟩ Arenaria serpyllifolia / thyme-leaved sandwort

Arenaria serpyllifolia L.

thyme-leaved sandwort (Caryophyllaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Arenaria serpyllifolia is a slender annual of bare sand and thin, lime-rich soils; like Arenaria leptoclados, its petals are shorter than its sepals.

Aston Rowant (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-04-30

 thyme-leaved sandwort / Arenaria serpyllifolia: _Arenaria serpyllifolia_ is a slender annual of bare sand and thin, lime-rich soils; like _Arenaria leptoclados_, its petals are shorter than its sepals.

Arenaria serpyllifolia has paired, ovate leaves.

Aston Rowant (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-04-30

 thyme-leaved sandwort / Arenaria serpyllifolia: _Arenaria serpyllifolia_ has paired, ovate leaves.

A dense-flowering form found on sand dunes is sometimes recognised as Arenaria serpyllifolia subsp. lloydii.

Oxwich (VC41: Glamorgan); 2016-05-08

 thyme-leaved sandwort / Arenaria serpyllifolia: A dense-flowering form found on sand dunes is sometimes recognised as _Arenaria serpyllifolia_ subsp. _lloydii_.

The fruiting capsule of Arenaria serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia is ‘flask-shaped’, with curving body and a slight ‘neck’, in contrast to the straight-sided capsule of Arenaria leptoclados.

Chinnor (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-06-27

 thyme-leaved sandwort / Arenaria serpyllifolia: The fruiting capsule of _Arenaria serpyllifolia_ subsp. _serpyllifolia_ is ‘flask-shaped’, with curving body and a slight ‘neck’, in contrast to the straight-sided capsule of _Arenaria leptoclados_.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne