# coastal miterwort (*Brewerimitella ovalis*) Coastal miterwort is a small plant that grows near the ocean. It has lovely, round leaves and tiny white flowers that bloom in the summer. This plant loves sandy places and can be found along the coast. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![coastal miterwort](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/685757956/medium.jpg) Photo: Rostyslav Yurechko, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/685757956) ## Appearance The coastal miterwort is a delicate perennial herb, featuring rounded, often hairy basal leaves. It sends up slender reddish stems topped with tiny, bell-shaped white flowers, each petal deeply fringed like a miniature snowflake. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Saxifragaceae - **Genus:** Brewerimitella ## Interesting facts - It can live for many years, poking up its delicate flowers each spring! - Its tiny flowers look like mini snowflakes, even though they bloom in spring! - The plant’s fruit is shaped exactly like a bishop's tall, pointy hat! - You can find this little plant growing only on North America's wet west coast. ## Special abilities - **Fringe Power:** Coastal miterwort has tiny, feathery petals that guide small insects directly to its nectar for successful pollination. - **Coastal Grip:** This plant can spread with underground stems, helping it anchor firmly in loose, moist coastal soils and survive. - **Miter Mystery:** Its unique fruit ripens into a two-part capsule resembling a bishop's hat, perfectly designed to release its seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Dark-winged Fungus Gnat (*Sciara coprophila*) — These tiny flies are attracted to its small, delicate, fringed flowers. - **Pollinates:** Mushroom Gnat (*Mycetophila fungorum*) — Another small gnat species that helps move pollen between its flowers. - **Eaten by:** European Black Slug (*Arion ater*) — Slugs sometimes munch on its leaves and tender parts. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify coastal miterwort? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is coastal miterwort? 10-30 cm ### How wide does coastal miterwort spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on coastal miterwort? 0.5-1 cm ### When does coastal miterwort bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is coastal miterwort edible? No ### Is coastal miterwort toxic? None ### What is coastal miterwort's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [King Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-range) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/west-shawnigan-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Coastal Miterwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coastal-miterwort)