Anagallis tenella

Anagallis tenella L. - Bog pimpernel
Family: Primulacee

It is a tiny plant, with creeping four-sided stems, often radicant at nodes.  It has got opposite slightly plucked subround leaves, 6-7 mm long. Its delicate flowers are pink with darker ribs going upwards from the leaf axil on 10-15 mm long peduncles.
It grows mainly in the Atlantic area but it is also present in more isolated spots in central Europe and in the Mediterranean area, from the sea level to an altitude of about 1,000 metres. It depends on moist grounds or on soils saturated with water in open and sunny spots. It grows on peaty, clay or sandy soils, often on mossy carpets.
It is typical of the Atlantic climate, cooler and more humid climates than the Mediterranean one. Consequently Anagallis is very rare in Italy and one of the most endangered species of the Italian flora. Because of its small dimensions, the biotope protection, the mowing and the removal of the vegetable biomass are essential in order to guarantee the light  necessary to the development of the specimens.
In the resurgence area of Friuli the species was found in many places,  which represent the eastern limit to its presence in Italy.  In spite of the decline of the species, some particularly favourable sites have survived: some on moss carpets near the water, some on gravelly-sandy deposits close to the water table.