Eremogone macradenia
Mojave or desert sandwort
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Eremogone macradenia (Mojave or desert sandwort) is a native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family.
Mojave sandwort is a California native perennial herb found in desert and arid regions at elevations where sparse, rocky landscapes dominate. Flowering from spring to early summer, this delicate plant produces white flowers with petals 6 to 11 millimeters long, arranged in open terminal clusters. Growing with tufted green stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall, sometimes glandular-hairy and rounded in profile, it forms dense clusters in harsh desert environments. Its leaves are narrow and slender, measuring 20 to 60 millimeters long and only 0.5 to 2 millimeters wide, with a single prominent vein and pointed tips. The plant produces small reddish-brown to nearly black seeds, 4 to 9 per fruit, which are slightly spherical and compressed.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all other species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura
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 macradenia native to California?
Yes. Eremogone macradenia is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Eremogone macradenia grow?
Eremogone macradenia occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Tulare, Riverside, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura.
What plant family does Eremogone macradenia belong to?
Eremogone macradenia is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.