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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Claytonia perfoliata (Miner's lettuce)
Pisapia, Robert J.

Claytonia perfoliata

Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd.

Miner's Lettuce

Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CLPE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I?), CAN (N)

A succulent plant with slender stems seeming to grow through middle of 1 circular leaf and topped by a raceme of tiny white to pinkish flowers. Flowers are 1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) wide; sepals 2; petals 5, from slightly longer to nearly twice as long as sepals.

The perfoliate leaves of this species are derived from opposite leaves that adjoin to form one leaf through which the stem of the inflorescence emerges. As the common names indicate, the leaves are edible. This species was once included in the genus, Montia.

 

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Stems erect to decumbent, up to about 20 inches long.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NH , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Alaska and British Columbia south to Baja California and east to Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
Native Habitat: Loose moist soil in shady places.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FAC FACW FACU FAC
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Claytonia perfoliata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Claytonia perfoliata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Claytonia perfoliata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-02
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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