Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Alpine Sandwort
Cherleria obtusiloba
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

Cherleria obtusiloba is an abundant, handsome plant forming a very low, dense mat of bright green leaves topped by numerous white flowers on stems that just top the mat of leaves or sometimes exceed it by up to several inches. are curved inward in a hood and they and the leaves are blunt-tipped, i.e., "obtusiloba."

We generally think that life, especially delicate and beautiful life, needs shelter, water, and, in the case of plants, rich soils. But life thrives in many environments which do not fit these criteria. Cherleria obtusiloba grows on high, dry, rocky ridges exposed to intense radiation and drying sun and wind. Water drains very quickly through the rocky surroundings. Cherleria obtusiloba's habitat (and growth patterns) are quite similar to those of Dwarf Phlox (Phlox condensata) and Moss Campion (Silene acaulis).


©2014 Susan McDougall, Trees Live Here.

Description

, forming very tight clumps to 6" in diameter, leaves. Flowering stems to 3" tall, erect or . to 1/3" long, 1/16" wide, , 1-veined, abruptly rounded at the tip; stem leaves 0-3 pairs, only 1/12-1/3" long, a bit broader than . Flowers erect, solitary or in twos. . often purple with , 3-veined, hairy to . Petals white, somewhat oval. to 1/3".

Field Marks

Tightly matted, minute leaves with a cover of numerous white flowers.

© Al Schneider

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

pedicel -- The stem of a single flower.

The apex is the tip or the furthest point from the attachment.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

glabrate -- Almost smooth and glossy or becoming smooth and glossy with age.

persistent -- When the leaves of a plant fail to fall off in the fall they are persistent. Flowers that stay around after fruiting would be persistent.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

ascending -- growing obliquely upward and usually curved.

basal -- at the base, situated or attached at the base.

Glands are plant structures that secrete liquids, salts or other substances. Glands often appear as hairs with a drop of liquid at the end.

linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.

basal leaves -- a leaf that grows lowest on the stem of a plant.

obtuse -- Rounded and blunt. An angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.