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Cyphel

Minuartia sedoides

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Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catchfly, Alpine Mouse-ear, Alpine Pearlwort, Annual Knawel, Annual Pearlwort, Arctic Mouse-ear, Arctic Sandwort, Berry Catchfly, Bladder Campion, Bog Stitchwort, Bouncing Bett, Cheddar Pink, Childing Pink, Clove Pink, Common Chickweed, Common Corn-cockle, Common Mouse-ear, Common Soapwort, Coral Necklace, Corn Spurrey, Deptford Pink, Dwarf Mouse-ear, English Sandwort, Field Mouse-ear, Fine-leaved Sandwort, Four-leaved Allseed, Fringed Rupturewort, Fringed Sandwort, Greater Chickweed, Greater Sea-spurrey, Greater Stitchwort, Greek Sea-spurrey, Grey Mouse-ear, Heath Pearlwort, Italian Catchfly, Knotted Pearlwort, Lesser Chickweed, Lesser Sea-spurrey, Lesser Stitchwort, Little Mouse-ear, Maiden Pink, Marsh Stitchwort, Moss Campion, Mossy Sandwort, Mountain Sandwort, Night-flowering Catchfly, Nottingham Catchfly, Perennial Knawel, Pink, Procumbent Pearlwort, Proliferous Pink, Ragged Robin, Recurved Sandwort, Red Campion, Rock Sea-spurrey, Sand Catchfly, Sand Spurrey, Scottish Pearlwort, Sea Campion, Sea Mouse-ear, Sea Pearlwort, Sea Sandwort, Shetland Mouse-ear, Slender Pearlwort, Slender Sandwort, Small-flowered Catchfly, Smooth Rupturewort, Snow Pearlwort, Snow-in-summer, Spanish Catchfly, Spotted Catchfly, Spring Sandwort, Starwort Mouse-ear, Sticky Catchfly, Sticky Mouse-ear, Strapwort, Sweet William, Teesdale Sandwort, Three-nerved Sandwort, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Upright Chickweed, Water Chickweed, White Campion, Wood Stitchwort
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
8 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Cliffs, grassland, heathland, mountains, rocky places.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, 5 petals
 
Yellowish-green flowers, often with no petals.
Fruit:
The fruit is a capsule.
Leaves:
The leaves are small (up to 6mm long) and pointed, forming a pale green cushion. Similar to the taller Moss Campion (Silene acaulis) except the leaves end in a less prominent point. Moss Campion also has yellowish-green foliage. Perennial.
Other Names:
Cyphal, Mossy Cyphel, Rock Sandwort, Rock-loving Sandwort.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen  

Similar Species

Moss Campion

Other Information

Summary

Minuartia sedoides, also known as rock sandwort or rock-loving sandwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to North America, and it is found in rocky or gravelly soils in alpine and subalpine environments, such as cliffs, talus slopes, and scree fields. Rock sandwort is a small, mat-forming perennial plant with thin, needle-like leaves and small, white flowers that bloom in the spring. It is adapted to dry, rocky environments, and it is often found in areas with low soil moisture and nutrient levels. In traditional medicine, Minuartia sedoides has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including respiratory problems, digestive issues, and skin irritation. However, there is little scientific evidence to support these uses.

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Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map