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Claytonia megarhiza var. nivalis

alpine springbeauty

Sierra Nevada claytonia, Sierra Spring beauty

Habit Plants perennial, with stout, woody caudices; periderm 5–12 mm. Plants perennial, rhizomatous; rhizome 4–8 mm diam.; periderm 5–15 mm.
Stems

5–25 cm.

3–10 cm.

Leaves

basal leaves sessile, dilated at base into broad, succulent sheath, blade rhombic to oblanceolate, 2–10 × 0.4–2.8 cm, apex obtuse;

cauline leaves sessile, blade oblanceolate, 2–10 × 2–5 mm.

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.

Inflorescences

multibracteate;

bracts subtending pedicels, apex obtuse.

ebracteate.

Flowers

12–20 mm diam;

sepals 6–8 mm;

petals white, pink, or rose, 5–20 × 3–8 mm;

ovules 6.

12–16 mm diam.;

sepals 2–3 mm;

petals pink to magenta, 8–12 mm;

ovules 6.

Seeds

2–3 mm diam., shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1 mm or less.

(1–)6, 2–3 mm, shiny and smooth;

elaiosome 1 mm or less.

2n

= 12, 16, 24, 32, 34, 36.

= 14.

Claytonia megarhiza

Claytonia nevadensis

Phenology Flowering May–Aug. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Talus, scree, gravelly slopes Mountain fell-fields
Elevation 2000-4000 m (6600-13100 ft) 2000-3500 m (6600-11500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NT
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 4, p. 469. FNA vol. 4, p. 470.
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. 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. 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. arctica var. megarhiza, C. megarhiza var. bellidifolia, C. megarhiza var. nivalis Montia nevadensis
Name authority (A. Gray) Parry ex S. Watson: Smithsonian Misc. Collect 258: 118. (1878) S. Watson: in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. California 1: 77. (1876)
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