Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.

Stems 1–4 dm, simple or branched; lvs 2–5 cm; tepals whitish, about equaling the hypanthium; 2n=28, 52 (?). Prairies, shores, and upland woods; widespread in N. Amer., from Nf. and Que. to B.C., s. to Ga., Ark., and N.M. May–July. Most of our plants belong to var. umbellata, the characteristic phase of e. N. Amer., with lanceolate to elliptic or ovate, ± evidently reticulate-veiny lvs green on both sides or somewhat paler beneath but not glaucous, the tep mostly 2–3 mm long and the fr mostly 4–6 mm thick. (C. richardsiana; C. u. var. decumbens) The well marked, more western var. pallida (A. DC.) M. E. Jones barely reaches our range, as in w. Minn. It has thicker, ± glaucous, often narrower lvs without evident lateral veins, longer, relatively narrower tep mostly 3–4 mm, and larger fr mostly 6–10 mm thick. (C. pallida)

Dry to moist sandy well-drained soils, especially those that are acid, from sea level to the sub-alpine zone.

The nectar is sucked from the flowers. The fruit are occasionally eaten. They are sweet when young. They can be used for jam.

Can be grown by seedlings.