Sandworts(8)
Many of the members of the Pink family have small, white flowers with 5 petals and 10 stamens. They fall into three groups by common name, the Sandworts (Arenarias, Eremogones, Minuartias & Moehringias), Starworts (Stellarias) and Chickweeds (Cerastiums). So if you don't see your flower here, try one of the other groups.
Ballhead Sandwort
Eremogone congesta (Arenaria congesta)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Snowball Sandwort
Photo taken on:
June 26, 2005
Location:
Jack's Cabin Cutoff, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to alpine
Habitat:
Meadows
Grows to 10" in grass-like tufts. Tiny flowers are in clusters on leafless stems.
Flora of North America reference.
Fendler's Sandwort
Eremogone fendleri (Arenaria fendleri)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
June 29, 2005
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to alpine
Habitat:
Dry meadows, woodlands, slopes
Similar in appearance to Ballhead Sandwort but small single flowers grow on grass-like stems.
Flora of North America reference.
Eastwood's Sandwort
Eremogone eastwoodiae (Arenaria eastwoodiae)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
May 31, 2019
Location:
Poshuouinge, Santa Fe NF, NM
Life Zones:
Plains and foothills
Habitat:
Dry rocky, sandy soils, slopes
A delicate looking plant growing to 10" in dense mats of needle-like leaves. Flowers are less than ½" across with a yellowish center.
Flora of North America reference.
Alpine Sandwort
Minuartia obtusiloba (Arenaria obtusiloba)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Sandywinks, Twin-flower Stitchwort
Photo taken on:
July 28, 2007
Location:
Cottonwood Pass, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Rocky meadows
Tiny flowers in moss-like mats with needle-like leaves. Petals are blunt compared to Boreal Sandwort below.
Flora of North America reference.
Boreal Sandwort
Minuartia rubella (Arenaria rubella)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Red Sandwort, Beautiful Sandwort, Arctic
Sandwort
Photo taken on:
July 23, 2005
Location:
Scarp Ridge, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Gravelly, unstable areas, scree
Tiny flowers in dense cushions on reclining stems. Petals are pointed compared to Alpine Sandwort.
Flora of North America reference.
Spreading Sandwort
Arenaria lanuginosa ssp. saxosa
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Sprawling Sandwort
Photo taken on:
August 19, 2008
Location:
Pajarito Ski Area, NM
Life Zones:
Montane to sub alpine
Habitat:
Open woods
Has bright white, rounded petals with 10 pink anthers. Grows to 8" in loose mounds sprawling along the ground.
Flora of North America reference.
Largeleaf Sandwort
Moehringia macrophylla
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Bigleaf Sandwort
Photo taken on:
July 06, 2008
Location:
Lily Lake Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to subalpine
Habitat:
Shaded slopes, rocky ridges
Tiny flower, growing 2" to 8" with pairs of 1½" long leaves on the stems.
Flora of North America reference.
Bluntleaf Sandwort
Moehringia lateriflora (Arenaria lateriflora)
Family:
Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
AKA:
Grove Sandwort
Photo taken on:
July 20, 2005
Location:
Lake Irwin, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to subalpine
Habitat:
Moist woods, meadows
Grows in colonies to 12", but is usually 5" and leaning, with more rounded leaves than Largeleaf Sandwort.
Flora of North America reference.