familyCaryophyllaceae
subfamilyCaryophyllaceae subfam. Alsinoideae
genusEremogone
speciesEremogone congesta
Eremogone congesta var. lithophila
Vasc. Pl. Wyoming ed. 3, 376. 2001.
Common names: Loosehead sandwort
Endemic
Basionym: Arenaria subcongesta var. lithophila Rydberg Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 148. 1900
Synonyms: Arenaria lithophila (Rydberg) Rydberg
Stems 10–30 cm, glabrous. Leaves: basal blades erect to somewhat spreading, filiform, 3–6 cm × 0.3–0.6 mm, herbaceous. Inflorescences proliferating, ± loose cymes, secondary axes to 2 cm; bracts often not closely enveloping sepals. Pedicels 1–5 mm, glabrous. Sepals weakly to conspicuously 1–3-veined, 3.5–5 mm, apex obtuse or rounded.
Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Open, rocky, sagebrush slopes and hillsides
Elevation: 800-3100 m
Distribution
Alta., Sask., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wyo.
Discussion
M. F. Baad (1969) suggested the possible relationship of var. lithophila to Eremogone capillaris, but he followed B. Maguire (1947) in retaining it in E. congesta, noting the existence of intermediates between var. congesta and var. lithophila.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.