Minuartia obtusiloba - Alpine Sandwort

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Caryophyllales - Family: Caryophyllaceae

Identification

The five-petalled flowers of Alpine Sandworth stand up slightly from its dense mat of green leaves. Unlike other similar species that occur in the same habitats, it has noticeably incurved sepal tips.

Habitat

The lovely mat-forming wildflower is an arctic species and occurs high up above the tree line in the western mountains of North America. It thrives in sandy or gravelly substrates and can quickly cover large areas of ground.

Distribution

A native of the high mountains of north America, from C