why did they need to be rescued?? .. interesting use of the word ...

ken

Looks like Talinum calycinum. I grew it years ago but 'lost' it (=inadvertently killed it). If you're up for a seed swap, I'd be interested in getting it re-established.

Ken, they had to be rescued, because they were clearly unhappy in the shallow soiled habitat best for them. Also note, that I have several clumps of them myself...because their previous garden owner felt they were far too free with procreation in her garden (xeric/cactus).

They do reseed very freely in dry well drained shallow soil areas which are free of competition...like rock shelves, in fact, that's where they're found in nature.

Rescue as a dam was being built to flood the entire area. Many wonderful plants gone now. Had permission from the water authority for years. Lots of Trilliums, Bloodroot, Arisaemas, etc. Strangely, not many ferns. We only found this one in one place. The others were over many ac., again, under water now.

It does look like P. calycinus. I will print out the description from Illinois site and go outside tomorrow to see if it all matches.

Thanks all.

Name change. Heard from another source: Phemeranthus teretifolium. You all were close! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Now we'll see if I can remember to collect the seeds!

Read my post one more time. I suggested that phemeranthus mengesii was closer than P teretifolium.

Thanks. Will check that one out, too.

Here again. In researching via the web, I found there is even ANOTHER newer species in our area: P. piedmontanus. I am not good enough to key all of this out, and I don't have examples of the other ones to compare. However, for those interested, the study has good comparison charts: New Phemeranthus