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The Irish moss (Sagina subulata) belongs to Caryophyllaceae (the Carnation family). It is an evergreen perennial herb that is widely distributed throughout Europe. It grows in dry gravelly soils and grasslands, reaching a height of about 10 cm. The stems creep along the ground, forming dense, thick mats. The leaves are small and needle-like, bright green in color. From spring to summer, it produces small white flowers at the stem tips. The flowers are 4-5 mm in diameter, with five white petals equal in length to the green sepals. The fruit is a capsule about 3 mm long. The photo shows the cultivated variety 'Aurea'.
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