Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L.

Four Leaf Manyseed; Four Leaf Allseed

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Four Leaf Manyseed is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. In Alabama in can be found in the southern half of the state. Four Leaf Manyseed grows in lawns, in coastal areas, and in disturbed sandy habitats. It is an annual with a slender taproot. The stems are erect to prostrate and spreading, finely ridged, green in color, and glabrous. Leaves are opposite or in whorls of 4, petiolate, spatulate to ovate or elliptic in outline, entire, and glabrous or minutely pubescent. Flowers are produced in axillary or terminal cymes. Each individual flower has 5 lanceolate or ovate, keeled, green sepals with white margins. There are 5 white petals. The petals are often small or absent and the flowers are self-pollinated and cleistogamous. The fruit is an ovoid capsule. Four Leaf Manyseed has been introduced in many areas of the world. In the United States it occurrs mainly in the south and west.—A. Diamond

**

Not Native

**