Sabulina stolonifera
Scott mountain sandwort, Scott Mountain Sandwort
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Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Sabulina stolonifera (Scott mountain sandwort) is a native California herb in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by but very restricted endemic range; gray-green color also distinctive.
Scott mountain sandwort is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in the southern Klamath Ranges on Scott Mountain in Siskiyou County, growing in serpentine soils and Jeffrey pine forest at elevations of 1,250 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces white flowers with petals slightly longer than its narrow, pointed sepals. Growing as a mat-forming herb 10 to 20 centimeters tall with trailing stems that spread 6 to 20 centimeters, it forms dense gray-green ground cover with a robust taproot. Its leaves are distinctive needle-like structures 5 to 9 millimeters long, extremely narrow and rigid, often shorter than the spaces between stem nodes. The small seeds have a thick margin colored red-brown to brown, highlighting this plant's unique adaptation to challenging serpentine environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species but very restricted endemic range; gray-green color also distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine soils, Jeffrey-pine forest
Elevation: 1250-1400 m
California counties: Siskiyou
Bloom period
Sabulina stolonifera blooms Spring-summer.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabulina stolonifera native to California?
Yes. Sabulina stolonifera is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sabulina stolonifera bloom?
Sabulina stolonifera blooms Spring-summer.
Where in California does Sabulina stolonifera grow?
Sabulina stolonifera occurs in Siskiyou, at elevations of 1250-1400 m.
What plant family does Sabulina stolonifera belong to?
Sabulina stolonifera is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Sabulina.
Is Sabulina stolonifera rare or endangered?
Sabulina stolonifera carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sabulina stricta — Bog sandwort
- Sabulina californica — California sandwort
- Sabulina cismontana — Cismontane minuartia
- Sabulina decumbens — The lassics sandwort
- Sabulina douglasii — Douglas' stitchwort
- Sabulina howellii — Howell's sandwort
- Sagina apetala — Dwarf pearlwort
- Sagina decumbens subsp. occidentalis — Western pearlwort
- Sagina maxima subsp. crassicaulis — Thick-stemmed pearlwort
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.