Scientific Family
Portulacaceae
Synonyms
Claytonia aquatica, C. chamissoi, C. chamissonis, C. chamissonis var. tenerrima , C. stolonifera, Crunocallis chamissoi
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 12 inches
Riparian
Yes
Slender rhizomes and stolons, stems erect, aerial portion to 12 inches, below water surface portion to 6 inches long; flowers solitary, not stalked, showy; petals 2, sepals 2, usually form bulbs; 2 bracts below flowers resemble sepals.
Creeping, submerged or partially submerged in water; 2 pairs or more of opposite leaves per stem, stems erect, slender; rhizomes, stolons slender; plants produce bulbils; flowers solitary, 2 sepals, 2 bracts that look like sepals, petals white to pink.
Habitat
Wetlands, riverbanks and streamsides from low to high elevations of mountains.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
7000
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers solitary, not stalked, often form small bulbs; sepals 2, rounded, paired at a right angle to the 2 bracts below, bracts resemble the sepals; petals 5, rounded, white, sometimes with pink veins; stamens 5; anthers pink or pale purple.
Flower color
White to pink
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves opposite, stalked; blade lance-like to oval-like, short, up to 2-1/2 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oval in shape, 3-valved.
Fruit type
Capsule
1 to 3, black, elaiosomes (fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds) are present.