Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Moehringia lateriflora [Arenaria lateriflora]
Family
Caryophyllaceae
CommonName
bluntleaf sandwort
Presence
Yes
Status
native
EarliestDate
1935
LatestDate
2024
Ecosystem
montane
Geobotanical
Garitas, SSanjuans
Counties
Conejos, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Passes
Spring Creek
WildlifePreserves
Other Localities
Comments
Moehringia lateriflora has not often been collected from the Watershed, with all but one record from the south San Juans, many in vicinity of Creede. (The record of 1981 is labeled only “Conejos”). There is a recent photorecord from Medano Creek north of the Great Sand Dunes NPP (June 2024, iNaturalist observation #225034812). Patches of the plant are typically found in montane woods by streams, hidden under other vegetation, spreading by rhizomes. But it does produce seeds that have elaiosomes (food appendages) attractive to ants, who may help disperse it. The USA distribution is roughly the northern half of the country, with a Rocky Mountain extension down to Rio Arriba and Taos counties of New Mexico (according to BONAP). For more photographs and comment, click "yes" in the Annotation field below.