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Sierra Nevada claytonia, Sierra Spring beauty

Great Basin claytonia, Great Basin springbeauty, umbellate springbeauty

Habit Plants perennial, rhizomatous; rhizome 4–8 mm diam.; periderm 5–15 mm. Plants perennial, with globose tubers 10–50 mm diam., mature plants rhizomatous; periderm 5–20 mm.
Stems

3–10 cm.

2–25 cm.

Leaves

basal leaves sessile, blade spatulate to rhombic or ovate, 2–10 × 0.2–3 cm;

cauline leaves sessile, blade ovate, 0.5–2 × 0.2–0.5 cm.

basal leaves somtimes absent, petiolate, 5–25 cm, blade elliptic to rhombic, 1–3 × 0.2–2 cm;

cauline leaves petiolate, blade elliptic to ovate 1.5–5 × 1–3 cm, abruptly tapered at base.

Inflorescences

ebracteate.

ebracteate.

Flowers

12–16 mm diam.;

sepals 2–3 mm;

petals pink to magenta, 8–12 mm;

ovules 6.

8–14 mm diam.;

sepals 5–7 mm;

petals pink to magenta, 6–12 mm;

ovules 6.

Seeds

(1–)6, 2–3 mm, shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1 mm or less.

1–2 mm, smooth and shiny;

elaiosome 1 mm or less.

2n

= 14.

= 16.

Claytonia nevadensis

Claytonia umbellata

Phenology Flowering May–Aug. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Mountain fell-fields North- and east-facing talus and scree slopes of drier mountain areas, subalpine coniferous forests
Elevation 2000-3500 m (6600-11500 ft) 100-3000 m (300-9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 4, p. 470. FNA vol. 4, p. 475.
Parent taxa Portulacaceae > Claytonia Portulacaceae > Claytonia
Sibling taxa
C. acutifolia, C. arctica, C. arenicola, C. caroliniana, C. cordifolia, C. exigua, C. gypsophiloides, C. lanceolata, C. megarhiza, C. multiscapa, C. ogilviensis, C. palustris, C. parviflora, C. perfoliata, C. rosea, C. rubra, C. sarmentosa, C. saxosa, C. scammaniana, C. sibirica, C. tuberosa, C. umbellata, C. virginica, C. washingtoniana
C. acutifolia, C. arctica, C. arenicola, C. caroliniana, C. cordifolia, C. exigua, C. gypsophiloides, C. lanceolata, C. megarhiza, C. multiscapa, C. nevadensis, C. ogilviensis, C. palustris, C. parviflora, C. perfoliata, C. rosea, C. rubra, C. sarmentosa, C. saxosa, C. scammaniana, C. sibirica, C. tuberosa, C. virginica, C. washingtoniana
Synonyms Montia nevadensis
Name authority S. Watson: in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 1: 77. (1876) S. Watson: Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 43, plate 6, figs. 4, 5. (1871)
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