E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Lewisia triphylla (S. Watson) B.L. Rob.
three-leaved lewisia (threeleaf lewisia)
Montiaceae (Purslane family)
(Previously in Portulacaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jocie Brooks  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #71175)

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Distribution of Lewisia triphylla
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a shallow, roundish, bulb-like corm 3-9 mm wide; stems ascending to erect, solitary or several, branched, threadlike below ground, 3-10 cm long.
Leaves:
Basal leaves narrowly linear, 2-5 cm long, soon deciduous or sometimes lacking; stem leaves 2-3 (5) semi-whorled, linear, 1-4.5 cm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence simple to compound and flat-topped with 1-25 flowers on stalks 5-15 mm long; floral bracts solitary at the base of most stalks; petals 5-9, white and pink-veined to pink, oblanceolate, 4-7 mm long; sepals 2, oval, 2-3 mm long lengthening to 4.5 mm in fruit; stamens 3-5.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, membranous; seeds 10-20, dark brown, smooth, shiny, 1 mm long.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist gravelly slopes, meadows, open forests and sandy snowbed sites from the montane to alpine zones; rare on Vancouver Island and SE BC; S to MT, CO and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Claytonia triphylla S. Watson
Erocallis triphylla (S. Watson) Rydb.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References