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Latin name: Sagina procumbens
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Family: Caryophyllaceae
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Common name: pearlwort
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Life cycle: perennial
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Habit: prostrate to mounding
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Foliage: Linear, oppositely arranged.
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Flower: Flowers are small and
inconspicuous, and it is generally difficult to distinguish their structures.
They are white in color, with 4 petals.
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Seedling: I have never observed
cotyledons on this plant, at least not that I could tell. Seedlings
emerge from soil and with foliage that looks identical to mature foliage.
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Roots: Small pearlwort seedlings already
have root systems large enough to escape the effects of herbicides. Apply
preemergence herbicides prior to pearlwort emergence, or thoroughly handweed
pearlwort from containers prior to applying pre- herbicides.
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Notes: Pearlwort is often associated
with excess water in containers.
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Control: View 2003 herbicide trial results for this
and other common container weeds. |
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Notes: Pearlwort produce an incredible
number of small seeds. Pearlwort also spread as foliage grows across
the soil surface and roots at the internodes.
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Notes: Pearlwort is not related to
liverwort (other than the fact that they are both plants). Pearlwort
is in the Pink family, and thus closely related to carnations and dianthus.
Pearlwort is a seed-bearing plant, while liverwort is a spore-bearing,
primitive plant. Nonetheless, pearlwort and liverwort are often seen
growing in similar conditions (overwatered containers).
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