Claytonia virginica
Claytonia virginica | |
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Eastern spring beauty at Radnor Lake | |
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Species: | C. virginica
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Binomial name | |
Claytonia virginica |
Claytonia virginica (L.), the Eastern spring beauty, Virginia spring beauty, or fairy-spuds, is an herbaceous perennial in the family Portulacaceae. Its native range is Eastern North America.[1] Its scientific name honors Colonial Virginia botanist John Clayton (1694–1773).
Description
Spring beauty is a perennial plant, overwintering through a corm. It is a trailing plant growing to 5–40 cm long. The leaves are slender lanceolate, 3–14 cm long and 0.5–1.3 cm broad, with a 6–20 cm long petiole. The flowers are 0.7–1.4 cm diameter with five pale pink or white (rarely yellow) petals. Flowering occurs between March and May depending on part of its range and weather. The seeds are between 0.2-0.3 cm in diameter and a shiny black. An elaiosome is present on the seeds and allow for ant dispersal.[2]
It is also a polyploid, having 2n between 12 and 191 chromosomes. The largest number of chromosomes was observed in New York City. [3]
Habitat and range
Spring beauty is found in the Eastern temperate deciduous forest of North America[4] It is noted for its abundance throughout many parts of its range, especially in forests. The plant can be found throughout many different habitat types including lawns, city parks, forests, roadsides, wetlands, bluffs, and ravines. [5]
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/40px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png)
- Flora of North America: Claytonia virginica
- Missouri Plants: Claytonia virginica
- Virginia Native Plant Society: Claytonia virginica
- Connecticut Botanical Society: Claytonia virginica
- Missouri Botanical Gardens: Claytonia virginica
References
- ^ USDA Plants, http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CLVI3
- ^ Claytonia virginica, Flora of North America, http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220002996
- ^ Cytogeography of Claytonia virginica and its allies, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2395001?seq=1
- ^ USDA Plants, http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CLVI3
- ^ Claytonia virginica, Flora of North America, http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=220002996