[The Pink Family East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Sandworts East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Eremogone (Arenaria)

Prickly Sandwort, Needle-leaf Sandwort: Eremogone aculeata (Synonyms: Arenaria aculeata, Arenaria aculeata var. aculeata, Arenaria aculeata var. unitahensis, Arenaria fendleri var. aculeata, Arenaria pumicola var. californica)

Prickly Sandwort: Eremogone aculeata

Thyme-leaf Sandwort: Arenaria serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia - European import. Sepals about 3 mm long, lanceolate with acute tips. Leaves lanceolate to ovate, 3-nerved and 3-7 cm long and 1.5-4 mm wide. Petals about 2/3 as long as the petals. Found in the Blue Mts. (near Meacham, OR) and Wallowa Mts. of northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.

Prickly Sandwort, Needle-leaf Sandwort: Eremogone aculeata (Synonyms: Arenaria aculeata, Arenaria aculeata var. aculeata, Arenaria aculeata var. unitahensis, Arenaria fendleri var. aculeata, Arenaria pumicola var. californica) - Petals about 50% longer than the sepals. The sepals are ovate in shape and obtusely- or shortly acute-tipped. Lower leaves stiff, 1-2 cm long and sharply tipped! The 1-3 pairs of stem leaves are reduced in length, up to one-half the length of the lower leaves. The inflorescence is an open cyme.

Fescue Sandwort, Mountain Sandwort, Slender Mountain Sandwort, Threadleaf Sandwort: Eremogone capillaris var. americana (Synonyms: Arenaria capillaris ssp. americana, Arenaria capillaris var. americana, Arenaria formosa) - Petals about 50% longer than the sepals. The sepals are ovate in shape and obtusely- to shortly acute-tipped. Lower leaves over 2 cm long and soft tipped. The 2-5 pairs of stem leaves are at least one-half the length of the lower leaves. The inflorescence is an open cyme.

Hybrid Sandwort: Eremogone capillaris x kingii var. americana -

Ballhead Sandwort: Eremogone congesta (formerly Arenaria congesta) - Petals about 50 % longer than sepals. The sepals are lanceolate to narrowly ovate in shape and acutely to acuminately tipped. Inflorescence typically tightly congested, although some varieties are more loosely cymose. Flower stems nearly leafless, the leaves very short.

Franklin's Sandwort: Eremogone franklinii var. franklinii (Synonym: Arenaria franklinii var. franklinii) - Sepals as long as or up to 3 mm longer than the petals. Sepals lanceolate in shape and acutely to acuminately tipped. Flower stems very leafy, brittle and easily shattered.

Thompson's Sandwort: Eremogone franklinii var. thompsonii (Synonym: Arenaria franklinii var. thompsonii) -

King's Sandwort: Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens (Synonyms: Arenaria kingii ssp. compacta, Arenaria kingii var. glabrescens, Arenaria pumicola var. californica) - Petals about 50% longer than the sepals. The sepals are broadly lanceolate and acutely to acuminately tipped. The inflorescence is an open cyme.


Paul Slichter E-mail