83. Blunt-leaved Sandwort

There was a time when many white-flowered plants in the Caryophyllaceae were in a large genus Arenaria, the  Sandworts.  Nowadays the genus has been split into several genera including Spergularia, Eremogone and Minuartia.   This species is in still another genus and is now Moehringia lateriflora  - which is considerably more difficult to remember, pronounce - and spell!  Blunt-leaved Sandwort grows in both North America and Asia.  Here at Leaning Oaks it grows in dry woodland and meadow edge, putting out dainty white five-petalled flowers in April and May.  Where ever one travels in B.C. it seems ever present, it grew on my thesis area in the East Kootenays, it grows in the woods along the Tatshenshini River in extreme northwest  of the province and in most forests in between.

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