Plant · GBIF taxon 3085402
Procumbent Pearlwort
Sagina procumbensAlso known as Birdeye Pearlwort, Bird's-eye Pearlwort, Creeping Pearlwort
Procumbent pearlwort creeps across damp gravel and paving cracks, forming dense moss-like cushions that withstand frequent foot traffic. Slender stems root at each leaf node and produce tiny greenish-white, four-parted blossoms scarcely two millimeters wide. Its ability to thrive in thin, compacted soil makes it an effective pioneer of sidewalks, urban gardens, and stony shorelines.
Mat-FormingFloweringUrban Resilient
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Aphids
ThreatsHerbicides, mechanical weeding, excessive turf competition
HabitatsPavement cracks, lawns, gravel paths, stream banks, rocky shores
Life spanPerennial (2–5 years)
Classification
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyCaryophyllaceae
- GenusSagina
- SpeciesSagina procumbens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Use a hand lens to distinguish the tiny four-petaled flowers from true mosses.
- Management: Hand-weed damp mats gently to lift shallow roots cleanly from patio gaps.
Close Relative (c) Michael D. Pirie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael D. Pirie · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Ben Keen · cc0
Same Family (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) Simon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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