Herniari glabra - seeds

Hernaria glabra, also known as Turquette, stands out as a small, spreading perennial evergreen plant, specially adapted to difficult conditions and arid soils. It is one of the easiest hernarias to identify, being completely smooth. Renowned for its long-standing medicinal virtues, this plant is characterised by its simplicity rather than spectacular features. It forms a dense cushion, with prostrate stems carrying small green leaves and produces small clusters of tiny green flowers in summer. Transforming the landscape into a verdant carpet during summer, Hernaria takes on coppery hues in autumn. Incredibly robust and comfortable among stones, it thrives in shallow, rocky, poor, and dry soils.

Hernaria glabra (in Latin), commonly known as turquette, smooth herniary, millegraine, stonebreaker, or herniole, is a perennial plant of the caryophyllaceae family, native to almost all of Europe, western and boreal Asia, as well as North Africa. It develops from a branching crown, producing prostrate, slender stems 20 to 35 cm long. Its ovate or lanceolate, bright light green leaves are smooth, opposite, with the upper leaves arranged alternately, measuring 3 to 8 mm and without a petiole. Gradually, the turquette forms a low-growing cushion with a height of 3 to 5 cm, sometimes reaching a diameter of 50 to 70 cm. The stipules are membranous and measure about 1 mm. Insignificant flowering occurs from May to July depending on climatic conditions. The flowers, without peduncles, form clusters along the small branches. The 5 petals are often reduced or absent and the sepals are greenish and approximately 0.5 mm. This colour matching the foliage gives the plant a curly appearance. The fruit, which contains a single seed, is indehiscent, meaning it does not naturally open at maturity to release it. 

Hernaria glabra proves to be a robust and versatile solution for covering difficult terrains. It is adapted to dry rockeries and can also be used as ground cover instead of grass as it is resistant to the most demanding conditions such as trampling and drought. This low-growing, easy to maintain plant, prefers a sunny exposure and poor soil, quickly forming a persistent green carpet that takes on coppery hues in autumn. A valuable asset for gardens with shallow soils, it pairs perfectly with plants that thrive in spartan conditions, such as: Frankenia laevis (Sea heath) with its reddish-purple flowering, Matricaria tchihatchewii (Dwarf chamomile) covered in small daisies from May to July, Teucrium ackermanii with its silver-grey foliage covered in pink-purple flowers, Thymus praecox Minor or Thymus longicaulis with highly fragrant foliage.

This plant adapts to various situations, from green roofs to gaps in stone walls, offering an ideal solution for gardens with limited soil. It can be harmoniously paired with dwarf asters with colourful flowers, grasses like Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens with black foliage, Carex oshimensis Evergold with yellow and cream variegated foliage, or small shrubs like Helichrysum italicum (Curry plant) with a strong fragrance or Convolvulus cneorum with silver foliage. In summary, Hernaria glabra is a resilient plant that enhances and adapts to various conditions, adding a natural and charming touch to your garden.

Hernaria glabra, formerly used for medicinal purposes, is recognised for its diuretic properties. Its common name "casse-pierre" (stonebreaker) originates from its traditional use in treating gallstones. In addition to its diuretic virtues, this plant is also considered to promote the healing of wounds and injuries, as well as emollient, soothing the body's tissues.