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Alaska spring-beauty, creeping spring beauty

lanceleaf spring-beauty, western spring-beauty

Habit Plants perennial, with minute, tuberous body, producing rhizomes and stolons; rhizomes 0.5–3 mm diam.; periderm absent. Plants perennial, with globose tubers 5–20 mm diam.; periderm 1–5 mm.
Stems

1–20 cm.

1–10 cm.

Leaves

basal leaves 1–15 cm, blade elliptic to spatulate, 1–8 × 1–2 cm;

cauline leaves sessile, blade lanceolate to ovate, 2 times or less longer than broad, 1–2 cm.

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

ebracteate.

1-bracteate (rarely with 2 bracts).

Flowers

15–20 mm diam.;

sepals 6–8 mm;

petals pink to magenta with yellow blotch at base, 10–16 mm;

ovules 6.

8–14 mm diam.;

sepals 4–6 mm;

petals white to pink, rose, magenta, yellow, or deep orange, 5–20 mm;

ovules 6.

Seeds

(1–)6, 2–4 mm, shiny and smooth;

elaiosome prominent, 2–3 mm.

2–2.5 mm diam., shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1–2 mm.

2n

= 10, 12, 16, 24.

= 12, 16, 24, 32, 36, 44, 48, 52, 64, 74, ca. 90.

Claytonia sarmentosa

Claytonia lanceolata

Phenology Flowering May–Aug. Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Moist tundra and meadows Sagebrush and montane foothills to alpine areas, particularly where snow persists
Elevation 0-2000 m (0-6600 ft) 500-3000 m (1600-9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; BC; YT; Russia
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Claytonia sarmentosa reproduces almost entirely from stolons and rhizomes.

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

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.

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

Source FNA vol. 4, p. 474. FNA vol. 4, p. 469.
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. nevadensis, C. ogilviensis, C. palustris, C. parviflora, C. perfoliata, C. rosea, C. rubra, 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. 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. umbellata, C. virginica, C. washingtoniana
Synonyms Montia sarmentosa C. caroliniana var. peirsonii, C. lanceolata subsp. chrysantha, C. lanceolata var. idahoensis, C. lanceolata var. peirsonii, C. sessilifolia
Name authority C. A. Meyer: Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 1: 137. (1829) Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 175, plate 3. (1814)
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