A. occidentalis and A. septentrionalis are found in all of the counties in the Four Corners area, but  A. occidentalis is far less common than A. septentrionalis.  The two are very similar in appearance but botanical keys do not always agree on the characteristics that distinguish the two species.  The first factor below is, however, universally agreed on.

The bracts of A. occidentalis flower clusters (the involucre) are less than three times as long as broad; the bracts of A. septentrionalis are at least three times as long as broad.

A. occidentalis flowers early in the spring at lower altitudes.  

A. occidentalis leaves are about half the size of those of A. septentrionalis, .3-1.1  centimeters long and 1-4.5 millimeters wide.

Pedicels of A. occidentalis are 2-20 millimeters long, less than half as long as those of A. septentrionalis.  

And finally, the calyx tubes, although similar in size (around 4-5 millimeters long) are a bit different in shape and color:  A. occidentalis calyx lobes are longer than the tube, i.e., the lobes are deeply cut.  Its calyx lobes are green with a white-to-greenish white tube.  The calyx lobes of  A. septentrionalis are shorter than the tube and the calyx is usually green throughout.

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 6, 2004.

It is amazing how often common things can escape notice: Androsace septentrionalis is very common and often flowers for months, but it is so delicate and tiny that it is often masked by much larger plants.  Once noticed, it is easy to spot again and again because of its densely packed basal leaves and long candelabra stems topped by numerous, tiny flowers.  It is common to find sub-alpine and alpine meadows dotted with scores of Androsace septentrionalis and one can find the same widespread sprinkling of the plants all the way down to the foothills.

The plant pictured is drying and dying from the stress of the drought of 2004.

Linnaeus named this genus and species in 1753.  Intermountain Flora points out that this species has an enormous range, from "Norway and the Alps to the Himalayas and the Pacific shores of Siberia, and in North America... from Alaska to Greenland, south through most of Canada and in the U.S. to California..., Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, east to North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, and Texas".

"Androsace", from the Greek "andr" ("man") and "sakos" ("shield"), refers to some properties of a now unknown plant.  "Septentrionalis" is Latin for "northern".

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

Following a fall, winter, and spring of far above average rains and snows, Androsace septentrionalis plants in the same location as that pictured above, are now rich in color, three inches tall, with dozens of flowers.  This plant probably grew another 3-6 inches.  

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 2, 2004.

This photo shows a plant growing in the drought year of  2004 in more moist conditions than the first Androsace septentrionalis pictured above.  Here we are 2,000 feet higher on tundra not long after the snow has melted.  A. septentrionalis can be a miniature plant at just a half inch tall and one can commonly find it six inches tall.

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Horse Creek Trail, June 21, 2005.

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Mesa Verde National Park, Prater Ridge Trail, June 17, 2005.

Shortly after blooming, plants lose their chlorophyll and turn lovely shades of maroons.