(Mononeuria glabra)
Minuartia glabra, commonly called Appalachian stichwort, is a species of flowering plant in the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it has a scattered distribution. Its natural habitat is areas of siliceous rock outcrops, which include granite, sandstone, gneiss, and schist. In the Cumberland Mountains, this species is a major component of sandstone glade communities. Due to its narrow habitat requirements, this species is uncommon throughout its range. Minuartia glabra is a small, delicate annual. It produces white flowers in late spring and early summer. It is similar to Minuartia groenlandica, which it was historically considered a variety of. It can be distinguished from M. groenlandica by its taller stature, annual habit, upright and not mat-forming growth, smaller petals, and flowers in greater number per cyme. In addition, M. glabra is found in lower elevations than M. groenlandica. Minuartia is a genus of flowering plants commonly known as sandworts in the family Caryophyllaceae. Minuartias are small annual or perennial plants which grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions such as on rocky ledges and in stony soil. The genus is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, mainly distributed in Europe, in the Mediterranean region, and north Africa, southwest Asia, and the Caucasus Mountains. Many Minuartia species were formerly classed in the genus Arenaria, and the obsolete genus Alsine. In 2014, the polyphyletic Minuartia sensu lato was recircumscribed, with many of the species transferred to other genera, including Cherleria, Eremogone, Facchinia, Mcneillia, Minuartiella, Mononeuria, Pseudocherleria, Rhodalsine, Sabulina, and Triplateia. Minuartia sensu stricto is characterized by the following features: leaves linear-setaceous; 5 acute sepals with 3, 5, or 9-veins; 5 white petals; 3 styles, forming 3-parted capsules. The genus was named for Juan Minuart (1693–1768), a Spanish botanist and pharmacist.