Minuartia decumbens
| Minuartia decumbens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Minuartia |
| Species: | M. decumbens |
| Binomial name | |
| Minuartia decumbens T.W.Nelson & J.P.Nelson | |
Minuartia decumbens is a rare species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names The Lassics sandwort and Lassicus stitchwort.
The species was described in 1981 from the type specimen observed on Mule Ridge in a string of peaks known as The Lassics.[1]
Distribution
It is endemic to California, where it is known from only a single occurrence in the isolated inland mountains of the North Coast Ranges in Trinity County near the Humboldt County line. It grows in the serpentine soils of the mountain forests among Jeffrey Pines.
Description
Minuartia decumbens is a low, mat-forming perennial herb growing a in a clump a few centimeters high from a thin, woody taproot. The narrow, rigid, sometimes needle-like leaves are under a centimeter long and no more than 2 millimeters wide.
The tiny flowers have purple-tipped sepals a few millimeters long and five white petals which are slightly smaller.
References
- ↑ Nelson, T. W. & J. P. Nelson. (1981). A new species of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae) from northwest California. Brittonia 33:2 162-4.
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment: Minuartia decumbens
- USDA Plants Profile: Minuartia decumbens
- Flora of North America