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Arenaria serpyllifolia - L.

Common Name Thyme-Leaf Sandwort
Family Caryophyllaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Bare ground, arable fields, walls, bare soil on chalk downs, cliffs etc[17].
Range Most of Europe, including Britain, temperate Asia and N. America.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-Leaf Sandwort


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Arenaria_serpyllifolia1.jpg
Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-Leaf Sandwort
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fornax

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arenaria serpyllifolia is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

The entire plant is used as a pot-herb[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitussive  Depurative  Diuretic  Dysentery  Febrifuge

The plant is antitussive, depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[[147, 218]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery[218]. It is also used in the treatment of bladder complaints, calculus troubles and acute and chronic cystitis[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

This species is apparently disliked by rabbits since it is often abundant round their burrows[17].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Korea, Japan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines (Luzon) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal (north) AFRICA: Algeria (north), Egypt (north), Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ammophila arenariaMarram Grass, European beachgrassPerennial1.2 4-8  LMNDM104
Carex arenariaSand SedgePerennial0.5 6-9 FLMSNDM222
Dendrostellera arenaria Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM002
Pimelea arenaria Shrub0.2 8-11  LMNDM101
Plantago arenariaFrench PsylliumAnnual0.3 -  LMHNDM13 
Salix arenaria Shrub1.0 5-9  LMHNMWe123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1750

Links / References

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