Arenaria verna Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, 2: 313. 1767 & Mant. Pl. 1: 72. 1767; Alsine verna (Linnaeus) Wahlenberg.

Herbs perennial, 3--10 cm tall. Stems caespitose, basally usually woody, distally glandular pubescent. Leaves linear or subulate, 5--12 × 0.7--1 mm, glandular pubescent, rarely glabrous, abaxially prominently 3-veined. Cyme lax, 1--7-flowered. Pedicel longer than sepals, glandular pubescent. Sepals ovate, 3--4 mm, glandular pubescent, prominently 3-veined, margin narrowly membranous, apex acute to shortly acuminate. Petals ovate, ca. 5 × 3 mm, base abruptly contracted into a very short claw. Stamens shorter than petals. Styles 3. Capsule ovoid, slightly exceeding sepals, 3-valved. Seeds brown, reniform, 0.6--0.7 mm, almost smooth to acutely tuberculate. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Sep--Oct.

Rocky hillsides, rock crevices; 200--3600 m. Xinjiang (Bogda Shan) [Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, N Russia; Europe, North America].