Hello,

I recently traveled to Yellowstone and took pictures of the wildflowers to identify later. I'm going through them, and am having trouble with one. Very small white flower, with four rounded petals. Very fine red stems, shorter plant, few thin, lance shaped leaves. This was blooming on a mountain walk in August. Here's a picture of the overall plant, you can see what dry, rocky soil in which it was growing. A close-up of the leaves/stems, and flowers. Thank you!!

Picture #2 looks like a grass with some loose blooms from plant #1. Was that the intent?

I see what you're saying, but it's all part of the same plant. The leaves originate on the same stems as the flowers. They all arise from a central point in the ground, most visible in the first picture.

Seems like a member of Rubiaceae, could it be a species of Bluet (Houstonia sp), growing along Lupinus sp.
Unfortunately the only Houstonia I ever see is "the common / azure Bluet" (H caerulea), a mounding species, usually grown in shady moist area, never saw any other species, but it seems this genus has some member in North America

The thing that is throwing me off...
The apparent diodia seems to be growing out of a clump of lupine.

This pic shows the actual leaves belonging to the wildflower.


Ok... Tofi already said that...

At my house, bluet (Houstonia sp) blooms in the very early spring... Diodia.(buttonweed and poor joe) are in flower now.

Edit:
I am finding sites that claim Diodia teres ranges out to Montana... So... maybe.

Tofi, I thought it looked a lot like bluet, too. I couldn't find anything else that even came close. But, when I look at a map, it doesn't look like it grows that far west (I honestly don't know), and it sounds like it blooms earlier?? I have no clue!! But, the stems looked very similar to me.

Stone, I see what you're saying. I think that lupine is creeping a little and they are a little intertwined, but that little scraggly clump is definitely the base for those little white flowers. Since porkpal was thrown by it, I actually zoomed in and followed the stems from the ground to the flowers.

I'm still not sure what it is, but I really appreciate you all taking the time to share your thoughts! If anyone figures it out, please share.

Oh, just saw that edit, Stone, about bluet potentially reaching Montana. Thank you for finding that info!

as to blooming time, well, I don't know but that all bets are off, in parts of Montana, where there can be snow on the ground in June- ?
thanks for a unique challenge

Hi & welcome! I love tiny blooms too. I couldn't find a pic that looked exactly like your plant, but didn't see it in person. Have you compared to H. subvicosa?
http://w3.biosci.utexas.edu/pr...
https://www.wildflower.org/pla...