Arenaria congesta
Arenaria congesta is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae known by the common name ballhead sandwort. It is native to western North America from central Canada to the American southwest.
| Arenaria congesta | |
|---|---|
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| Arenaria congesta in Wenas Wildlife Area | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Arenaria |
| Species: | A. congesta |
| Binomial name | |
| Arenaria congesta | |
Description
This is a perennial herb forming a tuft of slender upright stems up to about 40 centimeters tall. The leaves are needlelike to thready, up to 8 centimeters long and only a few millimeters wide. They may be fleshy or flat and they often have a very sharp tip. Most of the leaves are located in a patch at the base of the plant, and there are a few scattered along the mostly naked stem.
The inflorescence is an open or rounded cyme of five-petalled white flowers. The fruit is a toothed capsule containing several reddish seeds.
Uses
The plant was used for a variety of medicinal purposes by Native American groups, including the Shoshone.
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment
- USDA Plants Profile
- Photo Profile
- Ethnobotany
- Photo gallery
- "Arenaria congesta". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.