SAGINA-JAPONICA (SW) OHWI (CARYOPHYLLACEAE), AN OVERLOOKED ADVENTIVE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES

3 Pages·1991·1.3 MB·English

by  R S Mitchell

RHODORA,
Vol. 93, No. 874, pp. 192-194, 1991
OHWI
SAGINA JAPONICA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE),
(SW.)
AN OVERLOOKED
ADVENTIVE THE
IN
NORTHEASTERN
UNITED
STATES'
Richard Mitchell and Gordon
Tuckler
C.
S.
Crow
In his taxonomic revision of the genus Sagina (1978)
L.,
cited specimens of japonica from western North America, but
S.
not the eastern United States. This introduced species readily
is
distinguished from our native, annual pearlwort, decumbens
S.
&
T. G., by seed, capsule, leaf and pubescence characters
(Ell.)
Our
(Crow, was North
1978, 1981). attention called to eastern
first
American when
occurrences of japonica specimen
a collected
5".
New
by Magee from campus
Virginia L. the Mitchell College in
London, was
Connecticut, sent by the junior author Garrett
to
Crow
for identification. Subsequent study by the senior author,
New
in conjunction with current preparation of of York
a flora
New
turned up specimens from York and from
State, three four
New Museum
Massachusetts of York
in the collections the State
(NYS), which were not consulted by Crow during Pam-
his study.
Weatherbee provided of specimens which
ela a three additional
list
she also had checked by Crow and by Arthur Cronquist
also
us.
New
found specimen from York herbarium The
a State in the of
New
No
York
Garden
Botanical (NY). additional specimens of
japonica were found
S, in the collections of the Connecticut Bo-
(NCBS)
tanical Society or Yale University (YU).
New
York
and
Since Massachusetts specimens were
collected
early in the 1940's, apparent that Sagina japonica has been
is
it
an
established introduction in the area for 50 years or more.
Because of the small size of the plants and their superficial re-
pwcumbens
semblance
to 5. L., our other introduced Sagina,
they have been filed with in herbaria. Their annual growth habit
it
and make them
pubescent peduncles from
readily distinguishable
that species. Sagina japonica has spread in the Northeast since
introduction, but has probably been overlooked and under-
its
it
collected in the disturbed, often urban, settings where becomes
it
examining specimens from
established. In the northeastern Unit-
Crow comm.)
ed States, both Garrett (pcrs. and the authors noted
variability in the tuberculate condition of the seeds of japonica.
S.
Published as conlribulion number 670 of the New York Slate Science Service
192
Mitchell and Tucker— Sagina 193
1991]
At one specimen {Wilkins 14621) has prominently and
least
densely tubercled seeds, while the remaining specimens from our
Crow comm.)
area have pebbled seed surfaces. (pers. suggests that
may
variation imply multiple introduction of the species into
this
North America.
eastern
New
York and
For those wishing to identify Sagina species in
New
England, the following diagnostic key provided:
is
KEY TO THE
SAGINA SPECIES IN
NEW ENGLAND -NEW YORK AREA
Petals not showy, about equaling the length of sepals; flowers
1.
terminal, solitary, or a second one borne at the ultimate
node; upper not bearing succulent short-shoots
leaf axils
(2)
Perianth parts in annuals with ascending or decumbent,
2. 5's;
and
stems not
often capillary slender taproots, strongly
by
tufted or spreading offshoots
(3)
Seeds triangular with a dorsal groove; capsules
pale,
3.
longer than broad; pedicels usually glabrous (sepals
may
be minutely glandular at base); leaves not suc-
decumbcns
culent S,
Seeds dark brown, plump, lacking a dorsal groove; cap-
3.
sules globose; pedicels glandular pubescent (at least
the upper halves); leaves succulent .... S. japonica
on same mat-
2. Perianth parts in 4's (rarely 5's the plant);
wiry perennials, spreading by offshoots
ted,
procumbens
S.
Petals showy, about twice the length of sepals; flowers often
1.
more
than 2 per inflorescence; upper leaf axils bearing dense,
succulent short-shoots nodosa
S,
New New
Specimens examined: Connecticut: London Co.: London, Mitchell
College Campus, dry soil by building, 7 July 1988, Magee s.n. (conn, ncbs, nebc,
End
nha). Massachusetts: Berkshire Co.: Egremont, Jug Road, 27 June 1990,
Weatherbce 2990 (nha); Florida, base of Torrey Mountain Road, 23 June 1990,
(nha); Williamstown, driveway, 17 June 1990, Weatherbce 2948
ff'^£3///<^/'/7e^2956
(nha). Hampshire Co.: Northampton, streets, 27 June 1941, O. L. Schreiber 234
(nys); Amherst, ''Inwood" lawn, 23 June 1950, R.E. Torrey s,n. (nys); Amherst,
Hammond
Sunset Avenue, 18 June 1973, H.D. 680 1-h (nys); Hadley, North
New
Maple Street, 3 July 1978, H.E. Ahles 85437 (nys). York: Bronx Co,: Pelham
Chemung
Bay Park, Sect. 29, 14 June 1947, H.E. Ahles 1409 (nys); Co.: Elmira,
curbings and lawns, ''1945," SJ. Smith 4797 (nys); Kings Co.: Prospect Park,
Rhodora
194
93
[Vol.
Moon
BrooklN'n, N.Y. in grassy soil, 8 June 1957, Monachino 597 (ny); Ulster Co.;
Hollow Rd. 2 mi. w. of W, Shokan, Town of Olive, growing in dampish soil of
&
shaded roadside, 5 July 987, Karl Brooks 7074 Paul Ilulh (nys). Pennsylvania:
1 1
Museum
Berks Co.: lawn of Reading Grounds, IVilkens 14621 (nha).
LITERATURE CITED
Crow, A
G. 1978. taxonomic revision Sagina (Caryophyllaceae) North
E. oi' in
Rhodora
America. 80: 1-91.
1981. The systematic significance of seed morphology in Sagina (Car\'0-
.
phyllaceac) under scanning electron microscopy. Briltonia 31: 52-63.
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
NEW YORK MUSEUM
STATE
NEW YORK
ALBANY,
12230