1. Moehringia lateriflora (L.) Fenzl (grove sandwort)

Arenaria lateriflora L.

Map 1470, Pl. 339 g, h

Plants perennial, with slender rhizomes. Stems 5–30 cm long, ascending, often from a spreading base, usually branched, moderately to densely pubescent with short, downward-curved, nonglandular hairs. Leaves opposite, not fused basally, sessile or nearly so, with axillary clusters of leaves rarely present. Stipules absent. Leaf blades 0.6–3.0 cm long, broadly elliptic to oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate, not fleshy, tapered at the base, rounded or angled to a bluntly pointed tip, the margins and undersurface midvein moderately hairy. Flowers in open terminal clusters or solitary at the branch tips, the stalks 0.3–3.0 cm long, erect, ascending or somewhat curved in flower and fruit, the bracts paired and resembling small leaves, with thin, white margins. Epicalyx absent. Sepals 5, 1.7–2.8 mm long, fused at the base or appearing distinct, ovate to obovate, rounded or angled to a bluntly pointed tip, not appearing hooded or awned, the margins thin and white. Petals 5, conspicuous and somewhat showy, 3–6 mm long (ca. 2 times as long as the sepals), oblanceolate to narrowly oblong-obovate, tapered but not to a stalklike base, rounded at the tip, white, lacking appendages. Stamens 10, the filaments distinct, attached along the margin of a small nectar disc. Staminodes absent. Pistil with 1 locule, sessile. Styles 3, each with a stigmatic area along the inner surface. Fruits capsules, 3–5 mm long, dehiscing apically by 6 recurved teeth. Seeds 2–6, 0.9–1.2 mm wide, more or less kidney-shaped, the surface smooth, reddish brown to black, shiny, not winged, with a white, spongy, elliptic appendage. 2n=48. May–August.

Scattered in the northeastern corner of the state (northern U.S. [including Alaska] south to Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri, and Virginia; Canada, Europe, Asia). Mesic upland forests and occasionally bottomland forests.