Scientific Family
Caryophyllaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 10 inches
Riparian
No
A compact, ground-hugging plant with thread-like basal green leaves. White, star-like flowers are loosely clustered at the tops of long, thin, hairy stalks.
Woody based; branches few, stout; leaves thread-like, somewhat rigid and sharp, glandular-hairy and sometimes sticky. Flowers have 5 small, white, oblong to spatulate petals that are shorter than the slightly longer pointed sepals.
Habitat
Sagebrush plains to ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
12000
Flower Characteristics
Loose, branched clusters of white, star-like flowers atop thin stalks. Flowers have 5 white, oval petals, 5 green bracts and pink anthers. The flowers are approximately 1 inch wide.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The green, thread-like, upright leaves are sharply pointed and 2-1/2 inches long. Most of the leaves are basal, but some are oppositely attached to the stems. Leaves are sticky.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oblong to globose smooth capsule 3 parted, splits longitudinally when mature.
Fruit type
Capsule
Black, ovoid.