Minuartia glabra
Minuartia glabra, commonly called Appalachian stichwort,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it has a scattered distribution.[2]
| Minuartia glabra | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Minuartia |
| Species: | M. glabra |
| Binomial name | |
| Minuartia glabra (Michx.) Mattf. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Its natural habitat is areas of siliceous rock outcrops, which include granite, sandstone, gneiss, and schist. In the Cumberland Mountains, this species is a major component of sandstone glade communities.[3] Due to its narrow habitat requirements, this species is uncommon throughout its range.[4]
Minuartia glabra is a small, delicate annual. It produces white flowers in late spring and early summer.[5] It is similar to Minuartia groenlandica, which it was historically considered a variety of. It can be distinguished from M. groenlandica by its taller stature, annual habit, upright and not mat-forming growth, smaller petals, and flowers in greater number per cyme.[6] In addition, M. glabra is found in lower elevations than M. groenlandica.[7]
References
- USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Minuartia glabra". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- "Minuartia glabra". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens NatureServe, accessed 23 January 2018
- Minuartia glabra NatureServe, accessed 23 January 2018
- Minuartia glabra Flora of North America
- Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
- Minuartia glabra New England Wildflower Society
