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.