Eremogone congesta var. simulans
Capitate sandwort
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Eremogone congesta var. simulans (Capitate sandwort) is a native California subshrub in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by open inflorescence and longer sepals.
Capitate sandwort is a native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau on open, rocky slopes at elevations of 1,300 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces delicate white flowers in compact clusters with scattered bracts. Growing with slender stems to about 20 centimeters tall, it forms loose, open clumps. Its leaves are extremely narrow, less than half a millimeter wide and 20 to 35 millimeters long, creating a fine, feathery appearance. The flower sepals are sharply pointed and 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters long, giving the plant its distinctive capitate (head-like) character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species, distinguished by open inflorescence and longer sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1300-1700 m
Outside California: northwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Eremogone congesta var. simulans blooms Apr-Jul.
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. simulans native to California?
Yes. Eremogone congesta var. simulans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone congesta var. simulans bloom?
Eremogone congesta var. simulans blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eremogone congesta var. simulans belong to?
Eremogone congesta var. simulans is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
What habitat does Eremogone congesta var. simulans grow in?
Eremogone congesta var. simulans grows in Open, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Eremogone congesta var. subcongesta — Capitate sandwort
- Eremogone congesta var. suffrutescens — Suffrutescent sandwort
- Eremogone ferrisiae — Ferris' sandwort
- Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens — King's sandwort
- Eremogone macradenia — Mojave or desert sandwort
- Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia — Forest camp sandwort
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.