Largeleaf sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla)
Facts – Largeleaf sandwort
| Also known as: | large-leaf sandwort, large-leafed sandwort |
|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus | Moehringia (1) |
Status – Largeleaf sandwort
The largeleaf sandwort has yet to be classified by the IUCN.
Description – Largeleaf sandwort
The largeleaf sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla) is a small, delicate plant of North American forests (2). It may grow as a short, dense, mat-like plant, or may be taller and more open (3). Its stem is square or round in cross section, and often grooved, and is sometimes branched. Lance-shaped leaves are evenly spaced along the stem and measure 1.5 to 5 centimetres in length, decreasing in size towards the top of the plant (4) (5). The leaves have smooth to slightly bumpy margins (4).
The flowers of the largelaf sandwort may occur singly on short stalks near the top of the stem, or may be clustered in groups of two to five in a fairly open inflorescence (4) (5). The flowers are small and have five sharply-pointed sepals and five white, rounded petals of approximately the same size as the sepals (5).
Range – Largeleaf sandwort
The largeleaf sandwort is found across much of northern and western North America (6).
Habitat – Largeleaf sandwort
Biology – Largeleaf sandwort
Very little is known about the biology and reproduction of the largeleaf sandwort. However, it flowers between late spring and early summer (5).
Like other sandworts, the largeleaf sandwort is a perennial species, and is able to produce new shoots from creeping underground stems known as ‘rhizomes’ (4) (6).
Threats – Largeleaf sandwort
The largeleaf sandwort is listed as ‘Endangered’ in Wisconsin, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and as ‘Threatened’ in Michigan and Minnesota (6). It is considered to be rare in some of its range, in part due to its restricted habitat requirements (2). However, very little is known about its conservation status and the threats it faces, and this species has yet to be assessed by the IUCN (7).
Conservation – Largeleaf sandwort
There are no known specific conservation measures currently in place for the largeleaf sandwort.
Find out more – Largeleaf sandwort
Find out more about the largeleaf sandwort:
-
University of California, Berkeley: The University and Jepson Herbaria:
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Glossary
- Inflorescence: the reproductive shoot of a plant, which bears a group or cluster of flowers.
- Perennial: plants that live for at least three seasons; after an initial period they produce flowers once a year.
- Rhizome: an underground, horizontal plant stem that produces roots and shoots.
- Sepal: a leaf-like, usually green part of the protective outer layer of a flower bud.
References
-
GBIF Portal (July, 2011)
http://www.gbif.org/ - Coffin, B. and Pfannumuller, L. (1988) Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota.
- Munz, P.A. (2004) Introduction to California Spring Wildflowers. University of California Press, California.
-
University of California, Berkeley: The University and Jepson Herbaria (July, 2011)
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ -
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest - Big-leaf sandwort (July, 2011)
http://www.pnwflowers.com/flower/moehringia-macrophylla -
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Moehringia macrophylla (July, 2011)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch?keywordquery=Moehringia%20macrophylla&mode=sciname -
IUCN Red List (July, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
What's new?
New profile for the Endangered Vences' chameleon. More
Latest from the ARKive blog
To see the latest posts from ARKive please visit http://blog.arkive.org or enable javascript.
Image credit
Link to this photo
Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.
Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. Portlets may NOT be used within Apps.
MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.
