Claytonia exigua

Douglas ex Torrey & A. Gray

Fl. N. Amer. 1: 200. 1838.

Common names: Pale claytonia
IllustratedEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 468. Mentioned on page 466, 469.

Plants annual, with minute, tuberous bodies; periderm absent. Stems 5–10 cm. Leaves: blades gray, beige, or pink, glaucous; basal leaf blades linear or spatulate, 1–6 × 0.05–0.5 cm; cauline leaves sessile, distinct or partially connate into horn shape, blade spatulate, 0.2–4.5 cm, or subperfoliate, blade 0.2–4.5 cm wide. Inflorescences 1-bracteate; bract leaflike, 0.5–15 mm. Flowers 3–5 mm diam.; sepals 1.5–2.5 mm; petals white or pinkish, 2–5 mm; ovules 3. Seeds 0.5–1 mm, tuberculate; elaiosome inserted in wide notch of seed coat, 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 16, 32, 48.

Distribution

V4 928-distribution-map.gif

B.C., Calif., Nev., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Cauline leaves distinct or partially connate into horn shape; petals 2-6 mm Claytonia exigua subsp. exigua
1 Cauline leaves perfoliate; petals 2-3 mm Claytonia exigua subsp. glauca