Cardionema sp.
Sandmat
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Cardionema sp. (Sandmat) is a non-native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Paronychia: Cardionema is densely woolly-fuzzy; Paronychia is smooth-surfaced.; vs Euphorbia: Cardionema forms coastal woolly mats; Euphorbia has milky sap and different flower structure.; vs Selaginella: Cardionema has woolly flowering mats; Selaginella is a scale-leaved non-flowering plant.; vs Chorizanthe: Cardionema has woolly pink family flowers; Chorizanthe has buckwheat family flower structure.; vs Salsola: Cardionema forms low woolly mats; Salsola is a tumbleweed with spine-tipped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cardionema sp. native to California?
No. Cardionema sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Cardionema sp. belong to?
Cardionema sp. is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Cardionema.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.