Claytonia parviflora
Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 225, plate 73. 1832.
Common names: Indian-lettuce
IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Claytonia perfoliata var. parviflora (Douglas ex Hooker) Torrey Montia perfoliata var. parviflora (Douglas ex Hooker) Jepson
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Mentioned on page 471.
Plants annual, with minute, tuberous bodies; periderm absent. Stems 5–30 cm. Leaves: blades green or pink, not glaucous; basal leaves petiolate, blade linear (sometimes filiform), narrowly lanceolate, spatulate, or rhombic, 1–15 × 0.5–1 cm; cauline leaves sessile, blade linear and 0.5–4 cm, or perfoliate and 10 cm or less diam. Inflorescences 1-bracteate; bract 0.5–15 mm, leaflike. Flowers 2–12 mm diam.; sepals 1.5–4 mm; petals white or pink, 2–8 mm; ovules 3. Seeds 1–2.5 mm diam., shiny and smooth or with low tubercles, not pebbly; elaiosome 1–3 mm. 2n = 12, 24, 36, 48.
Distribution
B.C., Ariz., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash.
Discussion
Subspecies 4 (4 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
1 | Cauline leaves distinct and linear or trullate or deeply cleft into 2 ovate segments | Claytonia parviflora subsp. viridis |
1 | Cauline leaves perfoliate or slightly cleft | > 2 |
2 | Basal leaf blades spatulate, 0.3-1 cm wide; desert ranges | Claytonia parviflora subsp. utahensis |
2 | Basal leaf blades filiform to linear, 0.05-0.5 cm wide; Sierra Nevada, interior valleys, coast | > 3 |
3 | Flowers 2-8 mm diam.; Sierra Nevada, interior valleys, coast | Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora |
3 | Flowers 10-12 mm diam.; Sierra Nevada foothills | Claytonia parviflora subsp. grandiflora |