8.
Claytonia lanceolata
Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 175, plate 3. 1814.
Western spring beauty
Claytonia caroliniana
Michaux var.
peirsonii
(Munz & I. M. Johnston) B. Boivin;
C. lanceolata
subsp.
chrysantha
(Greene) Ferris,
C. lanceolata
var.
chrysantha
(Greene) C. L. Hitchcock;
C. lanceolata
var.
idahoensis
R. J. Davis;
C. lanceolata
var.
peirsonii
Munz & I. M. Johnston;
C. sessilifolia
(Torrey) Henshaw
Plants
perennial, with globose tubers 5-20 mm diam.; periderm 1-5 mm.
Stems
1-10 cm.
Leaves:
basal leaves 1-6, often absent at flowering, blade linear to lanceolate, 5-40 × 0.2-1.6 cm; cauline leaves sessile, blade ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 1-6 × 0.5-2 cm.
Inflorescences
1-bracteate (rarely with 2 bracts).
Flowers
8-14 mm diam.; sepals 4-6 mm; petals white to pink, rose, magenta, yellow, or deep orange, 5-20 mm; ovules 6.
Seeds
2-2.5 mm diam., shiny and smooth; elaiosome 1-2 mm.
2
n
= 12, 16, 24, 32, 36, 44, 48, 52, 64, 74, ca. 90.
Flowering Apr-Jul. Sagebrush and montane foothills to alpine areas, particularly where snow persists; 500-3000 m; Alta., B.C., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.
Some differences of opinion exist regarding the relationships of
Claytonia lanceolata
and
C. rosea
. The work of D. K. Halleck and D. Wiens (1966) and J. S. Shelly et al. (1998) provides ample justification for their recognition as distinct species.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Douglas, G. W. and R. J. Taylor. 1972. The biosystematics, chemotaxonomy, and ecology of
Claytonia lanceolata
in western Washington. Canad. J. Bot. 50: 2177-2187. Stewart, D. and D. Wiens. 1971. Chromosome races in
Claytonia lanceolata
(Portulacaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 58: 41-47.
