Sherardia arvensis

Sherardia arvensis is an annual plant with trailing and upright stems growing up to 40 cm long, having a square cross-section.  The rough pointed bristly leaves of about 1 cm in length are in whorls of four to six (normally six at the ends of the shoots, but four nearer the root).
The tiny pale lilac or pink flowers are approximately 3 mm in diameter and have a long tube, with only the end part of the four petals free.  The flowers grow in clusters of two or three together in an involucral structure formed out of a ring of six bracts.
The fruit are dry and about 3 mm long with two lobes giving rise to the two seeds (nutlets).
The four-angled stems with whorls of bristly leaves and tiny flowers are reminiscent of the Bedstraws and other related Rubiaceae, but Sherardia is distinguished by its mauve/pink flowers that are organized in clusters and having a long corolla tube.Sherardia arvensis plants are hermaphroditic and pollinated by flies.

Sherardia Arvensis

Sherardia arvensis

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