Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Fendler's Sandwort
Eremogone fendleri
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

Fendler's Sandwort (Eremogone fendleri) is often found on soils that have accumulated at the base of rocks and in the high forests and zones. It is also found at much lower altitudes on various soil types. Eremogone fendleri might be confused with Saxifraga bronchialis but a close look at the tuft of leaves and at the delicate flowers will show you the differences.

Many plants are known as "Chickweeds." A number of Chickweeds are common in the region, and although it is usually fairly easy to identify them as "Chickweeds," it requires time, patience, field guides, and a magnifying glass to identify their exact and species. "Erem" is Greek for "a lonely place" or "desert," and "gon" is Greek for "seed."


©2012 Jerry Oldenettel

Description

, 4-12" tall, with tufts of long narrow, upright leaves topped by numerous long stalks of white flowers. ; , in 5 or more pairs. Flowers with white petals and commonly 1-3-veined. Flower stems with and hairs. are with black seeds.

Field Marks

Small, bright, white flowers and long, narrow, opposite leaves.

© 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.

cauline leaves -- leaves growing on a stem and especially on the upper part.

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

subalpine -- Just below the timberline.

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.

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.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

scree -- field of small, loose, slab rock. Common high on mountains.

In an opposite leaf arrangement the leaves come in pairs with one leaf on each side of a stem.

stipule -- A leaf-like structure that occurs where the leaf joins the stem; stipules often occur in pairs.

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

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

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