sandwort

American  

[sand-wurt, -wawrt] / ˈsændˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Arenaria, of the pink family, having narrow leaves and clusters of usually white flowers, many of which grow in sandy soil.

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sandwort British  

/ ˈsændˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of numerous caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Arenaria, which grow in dense tufts on sandy soil and have white or pink solitary flowers

2. any of various related plants

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Etymology

Origin of sandwort

First recorded in 1590–1600; sand + wort ²

Example Sentences

The federally endangered Bear Valley sandwort, Ash-gray Indian paintbrush, and southern mountain wild-buckwheat are no match for the cascading impacts of soil disturbances caused by burros on the move.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023

Although Ziska was not yet the head chef, he contributed several dishes to the menu, including beet ice cream and skate and sea sandwort with mussel froth.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 11, 2018

To what extent, if at all, the sandwort depends upon the service of insects for its fertilization, I do not know, but it certainly has no scarcity of such visitors.

From The Foot-path Way by Torrey, Bradford

How wise, too, is the sandwort in its choice of a dwelling-place!

From The Foot-path Way by Torrey, Bradford

Arenā′ria, the sandwort, a genus of low herbs allied to the chickweeds; Arenā′tion, the application of hot sand to the body as a remedy.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various