| Sabulina verna | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Sabulina |
| Species: | S. verna
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| Binomial name | |
| Sabulina verna | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Sabulina verna is a scarce species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, known by the common names spring sandwort, leadwort,[2] golden moss, or Irish moss.[3] It is a small mat-forming, perennial herb.[4] It was first described as Arenaria verna by Carl Linnaeus in 1767 and is known by several synonyms including Minuartia verna.[1]
The small (7–9 mm across), 5-petalled flowers appear on short, downy stems from spring until late summer. The slender leaves have 3 veins.[5]
It ranges across temperate Eurasia and northwestern Africa[1] with a boreal-montane distribution. It is typically found on carboniferous limestone ground. It grows in short grassland, on exposed limestone pavement, on scree slopes and on metal-rich soils, including spoil heaps from lead mining.[4]
- ^ a b c Sabulina verna (L.) Rchb. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Minuartia verna | spring sandwort". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
- ^ Bluestone Perennials: Arenaria verna 'Aurea' Archived September 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Sabulina verna (L.) Rchb". Online Atlas of the British and Irish flora. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Sterry, Paul (2006). Collins Complete Guide to British Wild Flowers. HarperCollins. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-00-723684-8.