Loosehead sandwort

Arenaria subcongesta Nuttall var. lithophila Rydberg, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 148. 1900; A. lithophila (Rydberg) Rydberg

Stems 10-30 cm, glabrous. Leaves: basal blades erect to somewhat spreading, filiform, 3-6 cm × 0.3-0.6 mm, herbaceous. Inflores-cences proliferating, ± loose cymes, secondary axes to 2 cm; bracts often not closely enveloping sepals. Pedicels 1-5 mm, glabrous. Sepals weakly to conspicuously 1-3-veined, 3.5-5 mm, apex obtuse or rounded.

Flowering summer. Open, rocky, sagebrush slopes and hillsides; 800-3100 m; Alta., Sask.; Colo., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wyo.

M. F. Baad (1969) suggested the possible relationship of var. lithophila to Eremogone capillaris, but he followed B. Maguire (1947) in retaining it in E. congesta, noting the existence of intermediates between var. congesta and var. lithophila.