Botanical name: Arenaria curvifolia    Family: Caryophyllaceae (Carnation family)

Chamoli Sandwort was first collected by J.F.Duthie from Garhwal Himalaya in 1885 and on the basis of its herbarium specimens, in 1980 it was described as a new species. After 1885 nobody was ever reported to have observed this plant. After 121 years, D.S. Rawat and colleagues rediscovered this plant, in 2006. Chamoli Sandwort is a tuft-forming species with thicker perennial roots producing many short, perennial, horizontally spreading branches. These branches produce sub-erect or hanging annual branches bearing opposite linear lanceshaped leaves and white flowers in cymes at the end of branches. Flowers are fertile with ample seed-setting in the capsules concealed within persistent and enlarged sepals. Usually 6­8 seeds are produced in each capsule. Chamoli Sandwort is endemic to a very small region, the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, and hence considered one of the three most threatened plants of Garhwal. It has been observed at altitudes of 3400-3600 m. This picture is the first ever picture of this species.

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The flower labeled Chamoli Sandwort is ...