Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Minuartia verna

Family

Caryophyllaceae

Flowering season

May to August

English distribution

It is found in the northern Pennines, the Lake District, the

Peak District, the Mendips and the Lizard.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Spring Sandwort

Habitat

It grows in Carboniferous limestone areas on bare soils,

screes and mining debris, and in short grassland.

Description

Spring Sandwort is a small, native, perennial, variable,

mat-forming herb growing up to 15cm.

Flowers are dainty, up to 12mm across and on long

pubescent pedicels. They have 5 white, ovate petals

which are narrowed at the base.

There are up to 10 stamens (often fewer) with white

filaments and red/purple anthers.

There are 3 white linear stigmas.

The fruit is an ovoid capsule.

The 5 sepals are ovate with pointed ends, 3-veined,

membranous at the margins and shorter than the petals.

Leaves are linear, slightly curved, stiff and up to 15mm.

The stem is woody.