Claytonia perfoliata 967189 223618455 2008-07-04T22:27:46Z Lambiam 745100 /* Uses */ wikilinks {{Taxobox | name = ''Claytonia perfoliata'' | image = Miners_lettuce.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Claytonia perfoliata'' in [[Gaviota State Park]], California | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Caryophyllales]] | familia = [[Portulacaceae]] | genus = ''[[Claytonia]]'' | species = '''''C. perfoliata''''' | binomial = ''Claytonia perfoliata'' | binomial_authority = [[James Donn|Donn]] ex [[Carl Ludwig von Willdenow|Willd.]] }} '''''Claytonia perfoliata''''' ('''Miner's lettuce''', '''Winter Purslane''', '''Spring Beauty''', or '''Indian lettuce'''; [[synonymy|syn.]] ''Montia perfoliata'') is a fleshy [[annual plant]] native to the western [[mountain]] and [[coastal]] regions of [[North America]] from southernmost [[Alaska]] and central [[British Columbia]] south to [[Central America]], but most common in [[California]] in the [[Sacramento Valley|Sacramento]] and northern [[San Joaquin Valley|San Joaquin]] valleys. It is a trailing plant, growing to a maximum of 40 cm in length, but mature plants can be as small as 1 cm. The [[cotyledon]]s are usually bright green (rarely purplish or brownish-green), succulent, long and narrow. The first true [[leaf|leaves]] form a rosette at the base of the plant, and are 0.5-4 cm long, with an often long [[Petiole (botany)|petiole]] (exceptionally up to 20 cm long). The small pink or white [[flower]]s have five petals 2-6 mm long; they appear from February to May or June, and are grouped 5-40 together above a pair of leaves that are united together around the stem to appear as one circular leaf. Mature plants have numerous erect to spreading stems that branch from the base. It is common in the spring, and it prefers cool, damp conditions. It first appears in sunlit areas after the first heavy rains. Though, the best stands are found in shaded areas, especially in the uplands, into the early summer. As the days get hotter, the leaves turn a deep red color as they dry out. There are three ill-defined geographical [[subspecies]]: *''Claytonia perfoliata'' subsp. ''perfoliata'': Pacific coastal United States and southwest Canada *''Claytonia perfoliata'' subsp. ''intermontana'': interior western United States *''Claytonia perfoliata'' subsp. ''mexicana'': coastal southern California and Arizona south through Mexico to Guatemala *''Claytonia perfoliata'' subsp. ''utahensis'': recognised as local subspecies in Utah. ===Uses=== The common name Miner's lettuce is named after the California gold rush miners who ate it to get their [[vitamin C]] to prevent [[scurvy]]. It can be eaten as a [[leaf vegetable]]. Most commonly it is eaten raw in salads, but it is not quite as delicate as other lettuce. Sometimes it is boiled like [[spinach]], which in fact it resembles in taste. It is widely [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] in western [[Europe]], where it was introduced in 1749. <gallery> Image:Claytonia perfoliata basal leaves 2003-02-04.jpg|Basal leaves are [[Petiole (botany)|petiolate]] and [[Leaf shape#Cordate|cordate]]. Image:Claytonia perfoliata 2003-05-19.jpg|Cauline leaves are [[Leaf shape#Perfoliate|perfoliate]]. </gallery> == External links == {{commons|Claytonia perfoliata|Claytonia perfoliata}} *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Claytonia+perfoliata Jepson Flora Project: ''Claytonia perfoliata''] *[http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Claytonia+perfoliata Plants of British Columbia: ''Claytonia perfoliata''] *[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415745 Flora of North America: ''Claytonia perfoliata''] *[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CLPEP USDA plant profile] *[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?special=calflora&where-calrecnum=2244&one=T Calflora report] [[Category:Portulacaceae]] [[Category:Leaf vegetables]] [[Category:Flora of California]] [[Category:Flora of Oregon]] [[Category:Flora of Washington]] [[de:Gewöhnliches Tellerkraut]] [[it:Claytonia perfoliata]] [[nl:Winterpostelein]]