Big-Leaved Sandwort

Day 236: You need to get down on your hands and knees to appreciate the delicate white flowers of Big-Leaved Sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla). Also known scientifically as Arenaria macrophylla as well as assorted common names including Bigleaf Sandwort and Large-leaved Sandwort, the leaves were undeniably the definitive feature when it came time to put a name to the plant. Even so, "big" is a matter of perspective. At a maximum of two inches long and less than half an inch wide, the leaves would not pose much of a geographic conquest even to an adventurous aphid. This species is common in the Park, but often overlooked because of its diminutive "large" size.

Big-leaf Sandwort, Moehringia Macrophylla

Day 194: If you want to see Big-leaf Sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla, formerly Arenaria macrophylla), you may have to put your nose to the ground. This plant's five petals would barely cover the tip of a pencil eraser when fully open. The lanceolate leaves which give the wildflower its name dwarf the blossom at a mere 1.5 inches long. Sandworts grow in a variety of conditions including moist forest and on dry slopes. They can be found at almost any elevation where vegetation is present. This specimen was observed at Longmire, Mount Rainier National Park.