Spergularia and bracts
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Spergularia and bracts
This is an extract from Flora europae keys of Spergularia:
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11a Inflorescence ebracteate above; petals narrowly
elliptical; capsule globose = S. diandra
11b Inflorescence bracteate (upper bracts often very short);
petals ovate; capsule ovoid to subglobose .... S. bocconi / S. rubra/ etc.
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My question is if a specimen from a pop in Mxlokk, has bracts (=bracteate) or not(=bracteate). Are the basal leaves considered as bracts or leaves? The central flower seems to have no direct bracts.
In the link below:
http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/eng-ub/ima ... 18253.html
there is an image of S.diandra (the web is a reliable source) which should be ebracteate, but there are leaf-like structure at the base of the inflorescene but the the central flower itself is 'nude' of any bracts.
On the other hand, on looking to this image:
http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/eng-ub/ima ... 81362.html
most of the flowers are nude.
Near the specimen shown below there was typical S. bocconei and compared, the specimen was more lax, largem and stipules which are as wide as long not to say wider!
Personally, I think that the specimen is S. bocconei, and the cluster of leaves at the base of every inflorescence branching are bracts.
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11a Inflorescence ebracteate above; petals narrowly
elliptical; capsule globose = S. diandra
11b Inflorescence bracteate (upper bracts often very short);
petals ovate; capsule ovoid to subglobose .... S. bocconi / S. rubra/ etc.
===============================================
My question is if a specimen from a pop in Mxlokk, has bracts (=bracteate) or not(=bracteate). Are the basal leaves considered as bracts or leaves? The central flower seems to have no direct bracts.
In the link below:
http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/eng-ub/ima ... 18253.html
there is an image of S.diandra (the web is a reliable source) which should be ebracteate, but there are leaf-like structure at the base of the inflorescene but the the central flower itself is 'nude' of any bracts.
On the other hand, on looking to this image:
http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/eng-ub/ima ... 81362.html
most of the flowers are nude.
Near the specimen shown below there was typical S. bocconei and compared, the specimen was more lax, largem and stipules which are as wide as long not to say wider!
Personally, I think that the specimen is S. bocconei, and the cluster of leaves at the base of every inflorescence branching are bracts.
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- Spergularia sp.
- Spergularia2.jpg (62.14 KiB) Viewed 46906 times
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- Spergularia sp.
- Spergularia1.jpg (43.68 KiB) Viewed 46906 times
The question is if the group of leaf-like structures at the base are bracts or leaves! I also think that they should be referred to as bracts, though the doubt remains. Nevertheless, S. diandra shown in the links, have much less number of bracts/laves so my specimen is some kind of giant form of S. bocconei. Regards the taxon, did you noticed that Wikipedia in some authorative manner states that the correct name should be S. bocconi not bocconei / bocconii.
Regards
Stephen
Regards
Stephen
This is an extract from WIKI:
Spergularia bocconi (Boccone's sea-spurrey) is a species of the Spergularia genus, in the Caryophyllaceae family. It is named after the Sicilian botanist Paolo Boccone.
The epithet bocconi is sometimes modified to bocconii or bocconei. However, since Paolo Boccone used the Latinized form of his name, Paulus Bocconus, as was the practice of the time, bocconi is correct usage.
The papery structures are the stipules le?
Spergularia bocconi (Boccone's sea-spurrey) is a species of the Spergularia genus, in the Caryophyllaceae family. It is named after the Sicilian botanist Paolo Boccone.
The epithet bocconi is sometimes modified to bocconii or bocconei. However, since Paolo Boccone used the Latinized form of his name, Paulus Bocconus, as was the practice of the time, bocconi is correct usage.
The papery structures are the stipules le?
All right, all right - ma waqetx id-dinja pine 
If the specimen is S. bocconei, then the species is very variable in habit. The two plants next to each other (this and a typical S. bocconei) looked quite different.
I remebered another thing -> about Spergularia salina , did you photogaphed the seeds - they should be conspicuously winged. I always meet S. bocconei - I also doubt S. rubra in Malta, but I have not much experience to state this.

If the specimen is S. bocconei, then the species is very variable in habit. The two plants next to each other (this and a typical S. bocconei) looked quite different.
I remebered another thing -> about Spergularia salina , did you photogaphed the seeds - they should be conspicuously winged. I always meet S. bocconei - I also doubt S. rubra in Malta, but I have not much experience to state this.
spergularia
spergularia keys of Pignatti
spergularia keys
keys of Pignatti
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- spergularia
- Spergularia keys pignatti.jpg (176.3 KiB) Viewed 46853 times
Bocconii, bocconei, boconi.... even the epithet is misleading, anyway...
http://www.maltawildplants.com/CRYO/Spe ... cconei.php
Yes, as you said, the specimen with 9-10 stamens is very interesting. I think I remember where I photographed it, somewhere at Ghasri. I think I followed flora europaea and probably the seeds were unwinged.
So far, I never found a Spergularia with winged seeds.
Btw, S. salina = S. maritima ??? because pignatti does not mention it. I suggest you visit again The sp. salina to confirm it, becasue it woud be an interesting record.
http://www.maltawildplants.com/CRYO/Spe ... cconei.php
Yes, as you said, the specimen with 9-10 stamens is very interesting. I think I remember where I photographed it, somewhere at Ghasri. I think I followed flora europaea and probably the seeds were unwinged.
So far, I never found a Spergularia with winged seeds.
Btw, S. salina = S. maritima ??? because pignatti does not mention it. I suggest you visit again The sp. salina to confirm it, becasue it woud be an interesting record.
This is another Spergularia so different from the first group of photos. Small prostrate plants with triangular stipules ending with a ery pointed, sub-acuminate tip. The specimen above (starting this post) had a much more wider stipule. Only 2 flowers were present and no seeds. The habitat was a damp clearing on globigerina limestone (with scarse water percolating).
Maybe the ground was not fertile, washed from nutrients and the specimens of S. bocconei grew stunted/abnormal shape, but still, the stipules are different, and the flowers almost completely white, leaves aristate.
The question remains the same - are they different or both S. bocconei
BTW, now I understood key4a of Pignatti - it means if the stipule is connate half the length or just at the base.
Maybe the ground was not fertile, washed from nutrients and the specimens of S. bocconei grew stunted/abnormal shape, but still, the stipules are different, and the flowers almost completely white, leaves aristate.
The question remains the same - are they different or both S. bocconei
BTW, now I understood key4a of Pignatti - it means if the stipule is connate half the length or just at the base.
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- IMG_1031.JPG (302.48 KiB) Viewed 46810 times
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- IMG_1032.JPG (73.08 KiB) Viewed 46810 times
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- IMG_1030.JPG (100.77 KiB) Viewed 46811 times
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