Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia
Forest camp sandwort
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia (Forest camp sandwort) is a native California perennial in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by downcurved leaves and glandular inflorescence.
Forest camp sandwort is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, and San Gabriel Mountains in dry canyon slopes, yellow-pine and oak forests at elevations of 650 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white flowers in delicate clusters with slender, downcurved branches. Growing with slender stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms loose, spreading clumps in rocky, gravelly terrain. Its leaves are notably thin and gracefully curved, measuring just 0.8 to 2 millimeters wide, creating a delicate, architectural form. The plant's sepals are 4.5 to 7 millimeters long, with branches and sepals ranging from nearly smooth to densely glandular-hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species, distinguished by downcurved leaves and glandular inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, often gravelly (decomposing granite) canyon slopes, dry yellow-pine and oak forests, ridges, summits
Elevation: 650-2400 m
Bloom period
Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia blooms Jun-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 macradenia var. arcuifolia native to California?
Yes. Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia bloom?
Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia belong to?
Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Eremogone.
What habitat does Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia grow in?
Eremogone macradenia var. arcuifolia grows in Dry, often gravelly (decomposing granite) canyon slopes, dry yellow-pine and oak forests, ridges, summits.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.