Flower ID: IMG_0578.JPG-05-31-2017 Flower name (scientific): Moehringia lateriflora (Linnaeus) Fenzl PY: 1833. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) moh-RIN-gi-ah (or moeh-RIN-gi-a) la-ter-ee-FLOR-ah Flower name (common): Bluntleaf Sandwort Family name (common): Pink (Carnation) Family name (scientific): Caryophyllaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Paul Heinrich Gerhard Möhring (Moehring) (1710 – 1792), a German botanist and physician. Specific epithet: From the Latin latus for side and flora for flowers, that is, flowers on the side. Common name origin: Sandwort is a name applied to a number of plants growing in sandy habitats. Bluntleaf refers to the rounded leaf tips. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (5 to 10 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: White Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme Plant description: Erect Size: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to approximately 3 cm long and 1 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, broadly elliptic to oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Only one obsservation made in Putnam Park. Bloom time (typical): May to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, meadows, forests, riverbanks, shade or part shade, moist or dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Moehringia macrophylla (Large-leaved Sandwort) is similar, but this species has leaves that are typically 15 to 50 mm long and 2 to 9 mm wide, whereas Moehringia lateriflora has leaves that are typically 6 to 30 mm long and 5 to 10 mm wide. Moehringia macrophylla has a limited distrubution in the midwest, being reported as a threatened species in Wisconsin with a small number of observations and a geographic distribution limited to just two of the most northern counties. It is reported in Minnesota as rare, listed as a threatened species in Michigan, and not reported in the more southern states. There is some similarity with Arenaria serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Sandwort), which has flowers about 6 mm wide and small leaves 2 to 7 mm long by 1 to 4 mm wide, whereas Moehringia lateriflora has flowers about 5 to 10 mm wide. Minuartia dawsonensis (Rock Sandwort) also has some resemblance, but has small leaves 4 to 15 mm long and 0.5 to 2 mm wide, and flowers less than 6 mm long. Ethnobotany: Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Arenaria lateriflora Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 423 (1753). Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU