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Lanceleaf Spring Beauty, Western Spring Beauty - Claytonia lanceolata


Family: Portulacaceae - Purslane family Genus Common Name: Spring Beauty Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb
Claytonia lanceolata - Lanceleaf Spring Beauty, Western Spring Beauty.
Claytonia is a relatively small genus of 26 species, with all but one of those species found in North America. Most of those species are in the western half of the United States, but a few are found in the east as well.

Claytonia lanceolata is a small, pretty white, pink, or even orange or yellow wildflower of early spring in the western United States, especially in somewhat higher elevations. A similar species is Claytonia multiscapa - also known as Lanceleaf Spring Beauty. C. multiscapa is not as widely distributed, and is a slightly larger plant with narrower leaves and smaller flowers. It won't be found with pink petals, while C. lanceolata petals may be pink. C. multiscapa will have multiple bracts in the inflorescence, while C. lanceolata will usually have a single bract; sometimes 2. Some authorities have considered C. multiscapa to be part of C. lanceolata and others part of C. flava rather than a separate species. If part of C. flava it would expand the range of that species notably.

Found in:
CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

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Claytonia lanceolata

Distribution of Claytonia lanceolata in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2011-June-17Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron AP AF 90MM Macro
The blossom of Lanceleaf Spring Beauty has 5 petals and 5 stamens. The petals may be white, pink, yellow, or orange, although the white and pink ones are most common. The white petals may have a yellow blotch at the base. Sometimes the petals will have a pink stripe.
Claytonia lanceolata
Site: Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID Date: 2011-June-17Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The opposing stem leaves of Claytonia lanceolata are sessile and are lanceolate or ovate, up to a little over 2 inches long. The flowers are carried in a terminal raceme. Basal leaves are usually gone by the time the flowers come along.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Claytonia lanceolata
References used for identification and information:
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Claytonia lanceolata initially published on USWildflowers.com 2012-07-31; Updated 2020-01-14

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302