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

Lewisia columbiana (Howell ex A. Gray) B.L. Rob.
Columbia lewisia
Montiaceae (Purslane family)
(Previously in Portulacaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jim Riley  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #12802)

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Distribution of Lewisia columbiana
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a large, branched, fleshy root and simple stem-base; stems erect, several, branched, 10-30 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves numerous, linear-oblanceolate to narrowly spoon-shaped, 2-10 cm long, 3-8 mm wide; stem leaves alternate, bractlike, entire to gland-toothed, 2-3 cm long, reduced above.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an open, branched, panicle with many flowers on stalks 1-2 cm long; floral bracts glandular-toothed, petals 7-9 (rarely 11), white with pink veins to rose, egg-shaped, 5-13 mm long; sepals 2, glandular-toothed; stamens 5-6.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped; seeds usually 3 (1-5), deep brown-red to black, shiny, 1.5-2 mm long.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Mesic to dry gravelly or rocky slopes and rock outcrops from the montane to alpine zones; infrequent on S Vancouver Island and the Cascade Mountains; S to OR.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Lewisia columbiana

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 680 1317 2015
Slope Gradient (%) 30 39 55
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
40 189 218
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 1 1
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
B
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
4
Modal BEC Zone Class
MS
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: ESSF(1), MS(2), PP(1)

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.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References