Scientific Family
Portulacaceae
Synonyms
Claytonia lanceolata
Other common names
Rocky Mountain spring-beauty
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 4 inches
Riparian
Yes
Small, low growing plant with narrow leaves and 5-petaled white to pinkish flowers in loose clusters. Flowers have yellow to green centers with pink-tipped stamens.
Globose tubers; distal bracts leaflike or reduced to membranous scales; lower stem leaves often strongly tapered distinguish this from other Claytonia sp.
Habitat
Moist coniferous forests.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4200
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Flowers have 5 petals and 5 pink-tipped stamens. They are to 5/8 inches wide in a loose elongated cluster.
Flower color
White to pinkish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
February
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The lance-shaped succulent leaves are dark green above and pinkish beneath to 1-3/4 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Capsules have 3 valves.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Brown to black
Seeds are lens-shaped, shiny and smooth to less than 1/4 inch.