Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana (Rydb)

 

Portulacaceae

 

Purslane Family

 

Native

 

Miner’s Lettuce

 

                                                  March Photo

 

Plant Characteristics: Annual, stems 1-40 cm., spreading to erect; basal lvs. 1-25 cm., round deltate to reniform, tip short pointed, petiole linear; cauline pair fused, generally 2-angled, angles short pointed, < 10 cm. diam; infl. a terminal raceme, stalked or sessile, 1-sided, open or dense, 1-bracted at base; petals 5, 2-6 mm., white or pinkish; sepals 5, 1.5-2.7 mm., ovate to round, shiny smooth.

 

Habitat: Common in +/- shaded and vernally moist places below 5000 ft.; Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, S. Oak Wood, etc.; Lower California to British Columbia., inland to desert edge. Blooms Feb.-May.

 

Name: Named for John Clayton, 18th century American botanist born 1686. Greek, per, to bore through. Latin, folium, a leaf. (Jaeger 188, 104). The name describes the connate leaves, which appear to have a stem growing through them. (my comment). Mexicana indicates that the subspecies was first identified in Mexico.

 

General: This subspecies may be common in the study area. However, I have only recently (2006) been aware that it exists and have not looked at the plants around the upper bay to determine which subspecies, perfoliata, or mexicana is the most prevalent. I collected the plant specimen that turned out to be ssp. mexicana because it looked different but now I must look around to see if it is a common or uncommon subspecies. Subspecies mexicana is listed in the 1993 Jepson Manual but not in Abrams or Munz, Flora So. Calif. (my comments). Highly variable, sspp. Difficult because of environmental plasticity, genetic mixing among polyploids and geographical overlap of distinct, self-pollinating forms. Subspecies mexicana intergrades with subspecies perfoliata, C. parviflora and C. rubra. (Hickman, Ed. 900).

 

Text Ref: Hickman, Ed. 900; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 712.

Photo Ref: Oct.-Mar. 05-05 # 15,17.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found: March 2006.

 

Computer Ref: Plant Data 563.

No plant specimen.

Last edit: 6/27/06.

 

                                  March Photo                                                                                            March Photo