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

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

Introduction to Vascular Plants

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

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
Site Information	Avg	Min	Max
Elevation (metres)	1317	680	2015
Slope Gradient (%)	39	30	55
Aspect (degrees) [0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]	189	40	218
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric]	1	1	1
Modal Nutrient Regime Class	B
# 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)
Source: Klinkenberg 2013

Scientific Name	Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Lewisia columbiana var. columbiana	Native	S2S3	Blue	Not Listed
Lewisia columbiana var. rupicola	Native	S4	Yellow	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.

Two varieties recognized in British Columbia. Hershkovitz and Hogan in Flora North America online(2012) describe these as follows:

var. columbiana "Cauline leaves markedly reduced, inter-grading with bracts; blade margins entire or eglandular-toothed. Inflorescences: basal-most bract margins entire or eglandular-toothed. Petals pale pink to pink-magenta, 7-11 mm

var. rupicola "Cauline leaves usually absent. Inflorescences: basalmost bract margins glandular-toothed. Petals pale pink to deep purple-magenta or rose, (10-)12-13 mm

Hershkovitz and Hogan(2012) raise a question about var. rupicola in BC: "B. L. Davidson (2000) noted that the United States populations have pink to magenta petals, whereas the British Columbia populations have white to pale pink petals characteristic of the other varieties. Mathew questioned the assignment of the British Columbia plants to this variety."

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