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Carolina spring-beauty

lanceleaf spring-beauty, western spring-beauty

Habit Plants perennial, with globose tubers 10–20 mm diam.; periderm 1–5 mm. Plants perennial, with globose tubers 5–20 mm diam.; periderm 1–5 mm.
Stems

6–25 cm.

1–10 cm.

Leaves

basal leaves 6–21, petiolate, blade elliptic or spatulate, 3–5 × 1–3 cm;

cauline leaves abruptly petiolate, blade lanceolate to spatulate or ovate, 4–8 × 0.5–2.5 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

1-bracteate (rarely with 2 bracts).

1-bracteate (rarely with 2 bracts).

Flowers

8–12 mm diam.;

sepals 3–5 mm;

petals white, pink, or candy-striped, 6–10 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

2–4 mm, shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1–2 mm.

2–2.5 mm diam., shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1–2 mm.

2n

= 16, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36, 38.

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

Claytonia caroliniana

Claytonia lanceolata

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jun. Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat Wetlands and riparian hardwood forests Sagebrush and montane foothills to alpine areas, particularly where snow persists
Elevation 0-1400 m (0-4600 ft) 500-3000 m (1600-9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CT; GA; IA; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; NC; NH; NY; PA; TN; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[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

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. 467. FNA vol. 4, p. 469.
Parent taxa Portulacaceae > Claytonia Portulacaceae > Claytonia
Sibling taxa
C. acutifolia, C. arctica, C. arenicola, 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. 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 C. caroliniana var. lewisii, C. caroliniana var. spatulifolia C. caroliniana var. peirsonii, C. lanceolata subsp. chrysantha, C. lanceolata var. idahoensis, C. lanceolata var. peirsonii, C. sessilifolia
Name authority Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 160. (1803) Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 175, plate 3. (1814)
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