Minuartia caroliniana
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Photo courtesy Renee Brecht |
Britton & Brown |
| Botanical name: | Minuartia caroliniana |
| Common name: | pine barrens sandwort |
| Group: | dicot |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Growth type: | forb/herb |
| Duration: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Plant height: | 4 - 10" |
| Foliage: | leaves opposite, entire, short (1/4"-1"), leaves stiff and pointed; forms dense mats |
| Flower: | 5 petals, white, green at the base |
| Flowering time: | early June to late July, occasionally through the summer |
| Habitat: | dry sands |
| Range in New Jersey: | Pine Barrens |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | n/a |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc. | Stone, in 1910, says, " Frequent in white sand in the Pine Barrens,
but not found elsewhere in the State nor anywhere farther north, except
on Staten or Long Islands. This little plant, the "Longroot" of the natives, is characteristic of the barest patches of white sand, of which, except for a few grasses, it is often the sole occupant. At other times it is associated with Linaria canadensis and Chysopsis falcata and species of Lechea. The little awl-shaped leaves form dense tufted rosettes, resembling some species of moss, and from these the slender branching flower stalks stand up to a height of two or three inches. The white flowers, with their greenish centers are very delicate and attractive, but difficult to distinguish against the white sand. The stalks are somewhat glandular and sand grains and the ever-present mosquitoes are sometimes found adhering to them."(440) |