Arenaria Arenaria, L.

14. A. grandiflora L. View in CoL , Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 1034 (1759).

Laxly caespitose perennial; stems 5-15 cm; the vegetative stems with short deflexed hairs; the flowering with patent glandular hairs. Leaves 5-10 x 0-75-1 (-1-5) mm, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, green, with a long arista; midrib and margins prominent beneath and coriaceous. Stems 1- to 3(-6)-flowered; pedicels 2-6 times as long as sepals, glandular-pubescent. Sepals 3-5- 5 mm, ovate, acute or acuminate, sparsely glandular-pubescent, often keeled, mid-vein always prominent; petals 1 |-2| times as long as sepals, oblong-obovate, white. Capsule l |(-2) times as long as sepals, ovoid. 2n = 44. Dry rocky and stony places, mostly on mountains. C. &. S. Europe, but rare or absent in the east. Au BI Cz Ga He Hs It Ju Lu Si.

Var. incrassata (Lange) Cosson occurs in S.W. Europe. It differs from the typical plant in forming dense, more leafy tussocks; in having tetragonous, not terete, stems, and in having broader, elliptical and densely fasciculate leaves. It may merit subspecific status.