Arenaria verna) Loosely mat to compactly hummock-forming perennial up to 15cm across. Leaves 5-20mm long, awl to bristle or narrowly lanceolate, glandular-pubescent to glabrous. Flowers 8-12mm in diameter, white, one to three or more in cymes on stems 5-10cm or more high, late spring to summer. Northern temperate zone, in lowland to mountain habitats, usually in open places over base rich rocks. In the British Isles, often on the spoil heaps of lead mines. A very variable species throughout its range, in shape and colour of leaves, number of flowers per cyme and overall habit. Commercially available plants are generally compactly hummock-forming with deep green leaves and clear white flowers of good size. i s16 2 M.v. subsp. idaea and attica from Crete and Greece have glaucous foliage and would seem to be worth cultivating. M. rubella is like a small to miniature version of M. verna with petals shorter than sepals. Arctic and subarctic Europe at high montane levels.
