Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis
Charleston sandwort
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis (Charleston sandwort) is a native California subshrub in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by short leaves and desert mountain habitat.
Charleston sandwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the New York and Panamint Mountains in sandy desert mountain ridges at elevations of 2,200 to 2,500 meters. Flowering in June, this plant produces delicate white flowers in small, relatively open clusters. Growing with slender stems up to 20 centimeters tall, it forms compact, low-growing clumps in harsh mountain environments. Its leaves are extremely narrow, less than one millimeter wide and 10 to 20 millimeters long, creating a fine, thread-like appearance. Its small flowers have sharp-tipped sepals measuring 4.5 to 5.5 millimeters long, characteristic of this specialized desert mountain species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species, distinguished by short leaves and desert mountain habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy ridges
Elevation: 2200-2500 m
Outside California: southwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis blooms Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Sabulina: Eremogone has rigid, spine-tipped needle leaves in dense cushions; Sabulina has softer, narrower leaves more scattered on stems.; vs Minuartia: Eremogone cushions have spine-tipped needles that prick; Minuartia has softer, more flexible narrow leaves.; vs Ivesia: Eremogone has simple needle leaves in cushions; Ivesia has compound, fern-like leaves in rosettes.; vs Hesperolinon: Eremogone forms cushions of sharp needle leaves; Hesperolinon is upright with scattered narrow leaves.; vs Linanthus: Eremogone has dense needle-leaf cushions; Linanthus has palmate-divided leaves like tiny hands.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis native to California?
Yes. Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis bloom?
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis blooms Jun.
What plant family does Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis belong to?
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
Is Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis rare or endangered?
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S1.
What habitat does Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis grow in?
Eremogone congesta var. charlestonensis grows in Sandy ridges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eremogone congesta var. congesta — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. crassula — Rough sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. simulans — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. subcongesta — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens — Suffrutescent sandwort
- Eremogone ferrisiae — Ferris' sandwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.