Spurrey

Spurrey (Spergula), a genus of plants which has been variously ranked by botanists in the natural orders Caryophyllææ, Illecebræææ, and Crassulæææ. The species are annuals, dichotomously branched, or with whorled branches; their leaves linear-filiform, in clustered whorls, with membranaceous stipules; the flowers in terminal divaricating corymbs. The flowers have a calyx of five sepals, five white petals, five or ten stamens, and five styles; the capsule is five-valved, with numerous round seeds, surrounded with a membranous border. Common Spurrey, or Yarr (S. arvensis), is plentiful in cornfields, especially on light stony or sandy soils in Britain and most parts of Europe. In some parts of Europe a larger variety is frequently sown for fodder, and is much relished by cattle.