Ballhead sandwort facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ballhead sandwort
Arenaria congesta in Wenas Wildlife Area
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Caryophyllaceae
Genus:	Eremogone
Species:	E. congesta
Binomial name
Eremogone congesta (Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray) Ikonn.
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Synonyms
Arenaria congesta Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray

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Eremogone congesta, also known as ballhead sandwort, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes plants like carnations. This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from central Canada all the way to the southwestern United States.

Description

This plant is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows in a clump with thin, straight stems. These stems can reach about 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall.

The leaves are long and thin, like needles or threads. They can be up to 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. They are only a few millimeters wide. Some leaves are thick and fleshy, while others are flat. They often have a very sharp tip. Most of the leaves grow in a bunch at the bottom of the plant. A few leaves are spread out along the mostly bare stem.

The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be open or round. It is a type of cluster called a cyme. Each flower has five white petals. After the flowers, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a capsule with small teeth. Inside the capsule are several reddish seeds.

Uses

Native American groups used this plant for different health purposes. For example, the Shoshone people used it as a traditional medicine. They found various ways to use parts of the plant to help with different ailments.

See also

In Spanish: Eremogone congesta para niños