About Calyptridium umbellatum (Torr.) Greene
Calyptridium umbellatum (Torr.) Greene, also known by the synonym Cistanthe umbellata, is a species of flowering plant in the montia family. Its common names are Mount Hood pussypaws, or simply pussy-paws, especially in regions outside the Pacific Northwest. This species is native to western North America, ranging from British Columbia to California to Colorado. It grows in a number of different habitat types, including alpine climate areas that are inhospitable to many other plant species. A small isolated subgroup of C. umbellatum grows in the Zayante Sandhills, a biological island located within the Santa Cruz Mountains. In the entire Zayante Sandhills region, these plants only grow on one single hill. Individuals in this subgroup have frail petals and loose seeds that enable easy wind dispersal.
