Flowering Months:
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Family:
Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catchfly, Alpine Mouse-ear, Alpine Pearlwort, Annual Knawel, Annual Pearlwort, Arctic Mouse-ear, Arctic Sandwort, Berry Catchfly, Bladder Campion, Bog Stitchwort, Bouncing Bett, Cheddar Pink, Childing Pink, Clove Pink, Common Chickweed, Common Corn-cockle, Common Mouse-ear, Common Soapwort, Coral Necklace, Corn Spurrey, Deptford Pink, Dwarf Mouse-ear, English Sandwort, Field Mouse-ear, Fine-leaved Sandwort, Four-leaved Allseed, Fringed Rupturewort, Fringed Sandwort, Greater Chickweed, Greater Sea-spurrey, Greater Stitchwort, Greek Sea-spurrey, Grey Mouse-ear, Heath Pearlwort, Italian Catchfly, Knotted Pearlwort, Lesser Chickweed, Lesser Sea-spurrey, Lesser Stitchwort, Little Mouse-ear, Maiden Pink, Marsh Stitchwort, Moss Campion, Mossy Sandwort, Mountain Sandwort, Night-flowering Catchfly, Nottingham Catchfly, Perennial Knawel, Pink, Procumbent Pearlwort, Proliferous Pink, Ragged Robin, Recurved Sandwort, Red Campion, Rock Sea-spurrey, Sand Catchfly, Sand Spurrey, Scottish Pearlwort, Sea Campion, Sea Mouse-ear, Sea Pearlwort, Sea Sandwort, Shetland Mouse-ear, Slender Pearlwort, Slender Sandwort, Small-flowered Catchfly, Smooth Rupturewort, Snow Pearlwort, Snow-in-summer, Spanish Catchfly, Spotted Catchfly, Spring Sandwort, Starwort Mouse-ear, Sticky Catchfly, Sticky Mouse-ear, Strapwort, Sweet William, Teesdale Sandwort, Three-nerved Sandwort, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Upright Chickweed, Water Chickweed, White Campion, Wood Stitchwort
Maximum Size:
8 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Cliffs, grassland, heathland, mountains, rocky places.
Cyphel produces tiny, star-shaped flowers with five white petals, each often notched or shallowly split at the tip. These bloom close to the ground from June to August. The flowers are nestled within dense mats of foliage, giving the plant a subtle but charming alpine appearance. Due to their small size and low stature, the flowers are often overlooked unless closely examined.
Fruit:
The fruit of Minuartia sedoides is a small, dry capsule that splits open to release seeds. These seeds are minute and adapted for short-distance dispersal, typically falling close to the parent plant. This strategy suits its cushion-forming growth, helping the plant slowly expand across rocky or grassy alpine habitats.
Leaves:
Leaves are tiny, fleshy, and linear, growing in tight, moss-like tufts. Their succulent nature helps retain moisture in the dry, exposed conditions of upland and mountainous regions. This compact, cushion-like growth form also protects the plant from harsh winds and temperature extremes typical of its native alpine environments.
Fragrance:
Minuartia sedoides has no notable fragrance. Its flowers are pollinated by small insects, but it does not rely on scent to attract them. The plant's appeal lies in its mat-forming texture and delicate, starry blooms rather than any olfactory feature.
Other Names:
Cyphal, Mossy Cyphel, Rock Sandwort, Rock-loving Sandwort.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen
Summary
Minuartia sedoides, also known as rock sandwort or rock-loving sandwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to North America, and it is found in rocky or gravelly soils in alpine and subalpine environments, such as cliffs, talus slopes, and scree fields. Rock sandwort is a small, mat-forming perennial plant with thin, needle-like leaves and small, white flowers that bloom in the spring. It is adapted to dry, rocky environments, and it is often found in areas with low soil moisture and nutrient levels. In traditional medicine, Minuartia sedoides has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including respiratory problems, digestive issues, and skin irritation. However, there is little scientific evidence to support these uses.
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