Mojave sandwort facts for kids

Mojave sandwort (scientific name: Arenaria macradenia) is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the carnation family. People also call it the desert sandwort.

Where Does Mojave Sandwort Grow?

This plant grows naturally in the Southwestern United States. You can find it on sunny desert slopes. It also likes dry forests and areas with sagebrush. A good example is the Mojave Desert in California.

What Does Mojave Sandwort Look Like?

Mojave sandwort is a plant that lives for many years. It grows in a clump of straight stems. These stems can be about 20 to 40 centimeters (8 to 16 inches) tall.

Its leaves look like needles. They are a few centimeters long. The tips of the leaves can be sharp or rounded.

The plant produces white flowers. These flowers grow in an open cluster. Each flower has five soft petals. After the flowers, a small fruit grows. This fruit is a capsule with tiny teeth. Inside, it holds several small seeds that are reddish to black.

Different Kinds of Mojave Sandwort

There are four different types, or varieties, of this plant. Most of these varieties are common. However, one type, called var. kuschei, is very rare. Only about 130 of these plants exist. You can find them only in the San Gabriel Mountains in eastern Los Angeles County, California.