''Polycarpon tetraphyllum'', commonly known as four-leaved allseed (also fourleaf allseed or fourleaf manyseed), is a plant of the family Caryophyllaceae. An annual herb growing to 15 cm in height, it is found on sandy soils, in coastal areas and on wasteland. Native to Europe, it is also naturalised in parts of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and elsewhere. It is rare in Britain, except in the Scilly Isles.

Description

''Polycarpon tetraphyllum'' is a prostrate,

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

annual plant An annual plant is a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies. The length of growing seasons and period in which they take place vary according to geographical ...

. The stems produce many branches, and leaves are obovate and glabrous. The inflorescence consists of loose clusters of many small flowers at the end of each stem. The seeds are rounded and 0.4 - 0.5 mm long.

Distribution and habitat

''Polycarpon tetraphyllum'' is native to Southern Europe, the British Isles, the Mediterranean region, the middle east, and the Indian subcontinent. It has been introduced to the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. The plant tends to grow in disturbed, shady areas. It is commonly found as a weed growing in crevices in roads, gardens, and fields.

References

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileFlora of North AmericaPhoto gallery
Caryophyllaceae Flora of Europe Plants described in 1759 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Caryophyllaceae-stub