Paronychia argentea - Paronychia
Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Caryophyllales - Family: Caryophyllaceae
This plant forms dense mats in sandy places such as sand dunes and along coastal paths and tracks. Its flowers are rather curious and papery in appearance; they have sepals but no petals. It is a member of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae) and blooms from December to July.
Distribution
Paronychia occurs extensively in the western and central Mediterranean region, in Spain and also in Crete and North Africa.
Similar species
Paronychia argentea can easily be confused with Paronychia capitata which looks very similar and grows in the same habitats, although its flowering season is somewhat shorter, from March until June.
The specimens shown here were photographed in April in the Algarve region of southern Portugal .