Claytonia nevadensis
| Claytonia nevadensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Montiaceae |
| Genus: | Claytonia |
| Species: | C. nevadensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Claytonia nevadensis | |
Claytonia nevadensis, known by the common names Sierra springbeauty and Sierra Nevada claytonia, is a species of wildflower in the family Montiaceae. The evolutionary relationship of Claytonia nevadensis to other claytonias is a subject of debate and ongoing genetic studies. Sierra springbeauties are diploid with a chromosome base number of x = 7[1][2][3]
Distribution
The wildflower is endemic to northern California and south-central Oregon.[4][5]
It is native to the Sierra Nevada as far south as Farewell Gap; and is indigenous to the Sweetwater Range, Trinity Mountains, Inner Klamath Range, southern Cascade Range, and northeast to Steens Mountain of the Harney Basin Region of Oregon.[2] It grows in subalpine habitats such as scree and gravelly snowmelt stream banks.
Description
Claytonia nevadensis is a perennial herb growing from a network of fleshy rhizomes with a small horizontal caudex at ground level. It takes the form of a leafy clump with a stem no longer than about 10 centimeters.[2]
The thick red-green leaves are oval to spade-shaped and a few centimeters long, not counting the longer petiole of the most basal leaves.[2]
The inflorescence is a dense cluster of 2 to 8 flowers which nests in the clump of leaves or arises on a very short stalk. Each flower has five magenta to pink-tinted white petals up to a centimeter long. The bloom period is July to September.[2]
References
- ^ Miller, J. M. and K. L. Chambers. 2006. Systematics of Claytonia (Portulacaceae). Systematic Botany Monographs 78: 1-236. ISBN 0-912861-78-9
- ^ a b c d e Jepson eFlora: Claytonia nevadensis
- ^ Flora of North America
- ^ Calflora: Claytonia nevadensis
- ^ Chambers, K. L. 1963. Claytonia nevadensis in Oregon. Leaflets Western Botany 10: 1-8.
External links
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