''Androsace nivalis'' is a
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
in the primrose family
Primulaceae
The Primulaceae ( ), commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden pla ...
with the common name snow dwarf-primrose.
It was previously placed in the genus ''Douglasia'', which is now known to be nested within ''
Androsace
''Androsace'', commonly known as rock jasmine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Primulaceae, second only to ''Primula'' in the number of species. It is predominantly Arctic–alpine, with many species in the Himalay ...
''.
Description
''Androsace nivalis'' forms low clumps to extended mats with small dentate (sometimes entire) broadly lanceolate to linear leaves arranged in rosettes. Leaf surfaces and flower stems are covered with short stellate or branched hairs. Flower stems arise from leaf axils and give rise to small terminal clusters. The showy flowers have 5 pinkish purple petals, usually with a darker purple throat. Flower clusters are held well above the mat-like foliage.
[ Hitchcock, C.L. and Cronquist, A. 2018. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Edition, p. 397. University of Washington Press, Seattle.]
Range
''Androsace nivalis'' is endemic to the Wenatchee Mountains in Washington state and nearby areas.
Habitat
''Androsace nivalis'' grows in open forest and dry rocky slopes and meadows from about 600 m elevation to the alpine zone, often on rocky
serpentine soil
Serpentine soil is an uncommon soil type produced by weathered ultramafic rock such as peridotite and its metamorphic derivatives such as serpentinite. More precisely, serpentine soil contains minerals of the serpentine subgroup, especially an ...
s.
Etymology
The species name ''nivalis'' (Latin "snow covered") refers to the fact that the plant emerges early in spring, often when snow is still on the ground.
Taxonomy
''Androsace nivalis'' contains the following subspecies:
* ''Androsace nivalis'' subsp. ''weygaertii''
* ''Androsace nivalis'' subsp. ''nivalis''
References
nivalis
{{Primulaceae-stub