Arenaria rubra Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 423. 1753; A. campestris Linnaeus; Spergularia campestris (Linnaeus) Ascherson.

Herbs annual, sometimes perennial. Taproot slender, sometimes ± woody. Stems diffuse, decumbent or procumbent, 20--25 cm, branched at base, apically glandular pubescent. Leaves fasciculate, 5--20 × 0.5--1 mm, glabrous or pubescent; stipules silvery, lanceolate, apex acuminate. Cymes sparse; bracts nearly as large as leaves. Sepals lanceolate, 3--4.5 mm. Petals uniformly pink, obovate, equaling or shorter than sepals. Stamens (5 or)10. Capsule 4--5 mm, ca. equaling calyx. Seeds dark brown, subtrigonous, small, tuberculate, unwinged. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jul--Oct. 2n = 18, 27, 36, 54.

Sands, saline soils, forests, shallow watersides; ca. 800 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, N India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia; Europe].