Sagina maxima subsp. maxima

Plants annual or perennial, glan-dular-pubescent. Stems spreading to decumbent, frequently glan-dular-pubescent distally, nodes green. Leaves: basal leaves often in tuft of ascending linear leaves, secondary fascicles or basal rosette rarely present; cauline leaf blades: proximal (6-)8-15(-20) mm, distal (2.5-)3.5-7(-9) mm, both glabrous or rarely minutely glandular-ciliate. Pedicels usually stout or sometimes slender, densely glandular-pubescent distally, less densely glandular-pubescent proximally, proximal 1/4 usually glabrous. Flowers: calyx base densely glandular-pubescent; sepals ovate to orbiculate, (2-)2.5-3.5 mm; petals elliptic to nearly orbiculate, 2-2.5(-3) mm, slightly shorter than sepals. Capsules (3-)3.5-4.5 mm. Seeds pebbled or, less frequently, smooth. 2n = 44.

Flowering early-late summer. Coastal, rocky or sandy bluffs, rocky shores, gravelly beaches; 0 m; B.C.; Alaska, Wash.; e Asia.

In contrast to the eastern Asian members of subsp. maxima, specimens from the Aleutian Islands and the western coast of North America tend to have slightly larger flowers and smooth seeds. Additionally, pubescence is less dense and seldom occurs on the stems.