familyCaryophyllaceae
subfamilyCaryophyllaceae subfam. Alsinoideae
genusMinuartia
speciesMinuartia nuttallii
Minuartia nuttallii var. gregaria
Sida 21: 754. 2004.
Common names: Brittle sandwort
Endemic
Basionym: Arenaria gregaria A. Heller Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2: 67. 1903
Synonyms: Alsinopsis gregaria (A. Heller) A. Heller Arenaria nuttallii subsp. gregaria (A. Heller) Maguire Arenaria nuttallii var. gregaria (A. Heller) Jepson Minuartia nuttallii subsp. gregaria (A. Heller) McNeill
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 130.
Leaves tightly appressed to slightly arcuate-spreading; blade 5–10 mm, apex acute to acuminate, navicular, with small mucro, not spine-tipped. Flowers: sepals 1- or 3-veined, lateral veins less distinct, ovate to lanceolate (herbaceous portion ovate to lanceolate), 3–6 mm, apex acute to acuminate; petals 1.1–1.6 times as long as sepals.
Phenology: Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat: Sandy and rocky slopes and ridges, scree, barren rock, serpentine chaparral, Jeffrey pine woodlands
Elevation: 600-3200 m
Discussion
Variety gregaria is the variety likely the most closely related to M. decumbens, M. rosei, and M. stolonifera; it is the only one found in northwestern California and adjacent southwestern Oregon.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.