Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Diapensiales>Diapensiaceae>Pyxidanthera brevifolia B.W. Wells

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) flowers

A rare minute creeping subshrub of xeric areas in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. This is the smaller of our two species of pyxie-moss. Very range-restricted, the entire known range of this species is a handful of counties in North and South Carolina.

The other species, Pyxidanthera barbulata, which is more wide-ranging and typically occurs in moist habitats, has leaves about twice as long.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) flowers

Also called Littleleaf Pixiemoss, Wells's Pyxie-moss, Little Pyxie, and Dwarf pyxie moss. Listed in Radford as Pyxidanthera barbulata Michx. var. brevifolia (Wells) Ahles.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) flower buds

Flower buds, with some real moss in the lower right of the photo.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) leaves

The tiny succulent evergreen leaves are less than 5 mm long. Hairs generally cover at least the basal half of the leaves.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) habitat

Typical Sandhills Pyxie-moss habit and habitat.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia) flowers

Flower detail. The flowers rarely set seed and the seeds rarely sprout.

Moore Co., NC 3/14/07.

Sandhills Pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia)

Intersection of two different clones of pyxie-moss. The flowering one on the right has hairless leaves; the non-flowering one at left has pale-hairy leaves.

Moore Co., NC 3/22/07.

More information:
Flora of North America
NC Native Plant Society
USDA PLANTS database

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