**Herniaria hirsuta L. ssp. cinerea (DC.) Cout. (Caryophyllaceae)**

**Description**. Annual, mat-like, from a tap root; stems 5-20 cm long,
spreading to prostrate, moderately branched, hispidulous. Lower and
mid-cauline leaves usually opposite, the upper ones alternate, 3-12 mm
long, oblong to narrowly lanceolate, entire, hispidulous; stipules 0.5-1
mm long. Flowers ca. 1 mm long, in small axillary clusters of 3-8;
sepals ca. 1 mm long, ± equal to slightly unequal, ovate, fused at base
into a cup-like hypanthium, becoming unequal in fruit, minutely
hispidulous, the hairs in two separate lengths, the apices with a
bristle; corolla absent; fertile stamens 2-5 and adnate to the calyx
tube, sterile stamens (staminodes) 4-6; ovary superior, with a 2-lobed
style. Fruit a utricle, membranous, with 1 seed; seed compressed,
surface smooth, reddish brown (Brummitt and Heywood 1964, Clapham et al.
1962, Ferris 1944, Hartman 1993, Munz 1959).

Typical ssp. *hirsuta* has sepals ± equal in fruit, the sepal hairs are
± of one size, and sepal apices typically without a bristle (Clapham et
al. 1962, Hartman 1993).

**Geographical distribution**. *Herniaria hirsuta* (Including *H.
cinerea* DC. in Lam.) is native to central and southern Europe. It has
become naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, but in North America only
in California. (Chapman 1991, Ferris 1994, Hartman 1993, Munz 1959, Webb
et al. 1988). Elsewhere in North America (i.e., Maryland, Wisconsin), it
has been reported as a waif (Fernald 1950, Gleason and Cronquist 1991).

The earliest collections of *Herniaria* were made in the late 1890s from
a number of localities throughout middle and southern California
(Robbins 1940). Naturalized populations occur on San Miguel, Santa
Barbara, and Santa Rosa islands (Junak et al. 1997). The species occurs
in scattered counties mostly west of the Sierra Nevada (Anonymous 1998,
Hartman 1993).

**Reproductive and vegetative biology**: No references were found that
reported on the reproductive biology of *Herniaria*. However, most
small-flowered species in related genera (e.g., *Paronychia*) are
apparently self-compatible and self-pollinated (Proctor et al. 1996).

**Ecological distribution**. In both native and naturalized habitats
*Herniaria* occurs on sandy to clay soils and disturbed sites (Clapham
et al. 1962, ). However, it has been reported as a serpentine endemic,
at least in Albania, and is known to accumulate heavy metals (Shallari
et al. 1998)

**Weed status.** *Herniaria hirsuta* is not considered a noxious weed in
agricultural or horticultural practice, at least at a global level (not
listed by Holm et al. 1977), nor is it considered a noxious weed by the
State Dept. of Food and Agriculture (Anonymous 1996). It is not listed
for the United States in Lorenzi and Jeffery (1987).

**Microbial and insect pathogens**. No literature was found that
reported *Herniaria hirsuta* sensu lato, including *H. cinerea* DC. and
*H. hirsuta* ssp. *cinerea*, as a host of detrimental bacterial, fungal,
or insect pathogens.

**Herbicide control**. No literature was found that reported herbicide
treatment.

**Literature Cited**

Anonymous. 1996. Exotic pest plants of greatest ecological concern in
California as of August 1996. California Exotic Pest Plant Council. 8
pp.

Anonymous. 1998. California county flora database version 2, Santa
Barbara Botanic Garden and USDA National Plants Data Center, Santa
Barbara and New Orleans. URL = plants.usda.gov

Brummitt, R. and V. Heywood. 1964. *Herniaria.* pp. 151-152. In Tutin et
al. (eds.) Flora Europaea. Volume 1. Lycopodiaceae to Platanaceae.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 464 pp.

Chapman, A. 1991. Australian plan name index. D-J. Australian Government
Publishing Service, Canberra. pp. 899-1709.

Fernald, M. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany. Eighth Edition. American Book
Company, New York. 1632 pp.

Ferris, R. Illecebraceae. . pp. 111-114. In L. Abrams (ed.) Illustrated
flora of the Pacific states. Volume 2. Polygonaceae to Krameriaceae.
Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 635 pp.

Gleason, H. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the vascular plants of
northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. 2nd edition. New York
Botanic Garden, Bronx. 910 pp.

Hartman, R. 1993. Caryophyllaceae. pp. 475-497. In J. Hickman (ed.) The
Jepson Manual: higher vascular plants of California. University of
California Press, Berkeley. 1400 pp.

Holm, L., D. Plucknett, J. Pancho, and J. Herberger. 1977. The world's
worst weeds: distribution and ecology. University Press of Hawaii,
Honolulu. 609 pp.

Junak, S., S. Chaney, R. Philbrick, and R. Clark. 1997. A checklist of
vascular plants of Channel Islands National Park. Southwest Parks and
Monuments Association, Tucson, AZ. 43 pp.

Lorenzi, H. and L. Jeffery. 1987. Weeds of the United States and their
control. Van Nostrand Company, New York. 355 pp.

Munz, P. 1959. A flora of California. University of California Press,
Berkeley. 1681 pp.

Robbins, W. 1940. Alien plants growing without cultivation in
California. Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin 637. University of
California, Berkeley. 128 pp.

Robbins, W., M. Bellue, and W. Ball. 1970. Weeds of California.
Documents and Publications, Sacramento, California. 547 pp.

Shallari, S, C. Schwartz,A. Hasko, J. Morel. 1998. Heavy metals in soils
and plants of serpentine and industrial sites of Albania. Science of the
Total Environment. 209: 133-142.

Webb, C., W. Sykes, and P. Garnock-Jones. 1988. Flora of New Zealand.
Volume 4. Naturalized pteridophytes, gymnosperms, dicotyledons.
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch. 1365 pp.