Claytonia sarmentosa
Nouv. Mém. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 1: 137. 1829.
Common names: Creeping spring beauty
Illustrated
Synonyms: Montia sarmentosa (C. A. Meyer) B. L. Robinson
Plants perennial, with minute, tuberous body, producing rhizomes and stolons; rhizomes 0.5–3 mm diam.; periderm absent. Stems 1–20 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. Inflorescences ebracteate. Flowers 15–20 mm diam.; sepals 6–8 mm; petals pink to magenta with yellow blotch at base, 10–16 mm; ovules 6. Seeds (1–)6, 2–4 mm, shiny and smooth; elaiosome prominent, 2–3 mm. 2n = 10, 12, 16, 24.
Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Moist tundra and meadows
Elevation: 0-2000 m
Distribution
B.C., Yukon, Alaska, Russia.
Discussion
Claytonia sarmentosa reproduces almost entirely from stolons and rhizomes.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.