Claytonia exigua subsp. glauca Torr. & A. Gray (Torr. & A. Gray) John M. Mill. & K.L. Chambers
pallid claytonia
Montiaceae (Purslane family)
(Previously in Portulacaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
pallid claytonia
Montiaceae (Purslane family)
(Previously in Portulacaceae)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Map
Distribution of Claytonia exigua subsp. glauca
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Species Information
General:
Annual herb from a slender taproot; stems erect, simple, bluish-green, 1-15 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves numerous, linear, 2-12 cm long, 0.5-1.5 mm wide, blue-green; stem leaves paired, opposite, linear to linear-lanceolate, 0.5-4 cm long, free or fused on one side less than half their length, bluish-green.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of stalked to unstalked racemes 5-20 mm long with 2-7 flowers on recurved stalks, the stalks 3-10 mm long, with one bract subtending the lowest flower; petals 5, white or pale pink, 2.5-4.5 mm long; sepals 2, 1-2 mm long.
Fruits:
Capsules, 2-3 mm long; seeds 3, elliptic, dull black, 1-1.5 mm long, with small rounded swellings (at 20x magnification), the appendages brownish, fleshy or shrunken.
Habitat and Range
Moist, open vernal sites in the lowland and montane zones; infrequent on SE Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and adjacent coast, also known from Hazelton; S to CA.Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Claytonia parviflora var. glauca Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray
Montia perfoliata subsp. glauca (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Ferris
Taxonomic Keys
1. Cauline leaves distinct or partially connate into horn shape; petals 2-6 mm................subsp. exigua
1. Cauline leaves perfoliate; petals 2-3 mm...................subsp. glauca Source: Flora North America Online. |