PORTULACACEAE

PURSLANE FAMILY

Annual or perennial herb, generally fleshy
Stems generally glabrous
Leaves simple, alternate or opposite, sometimes stipuled
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual, radial; sepals generally 2(–8), free or fused at base; petals 3–18, free or ± fused; stamens 1–many, free or inserted on corolla; ovary superior or partly inferior, chamber 1, placenta free-central or basal; styles 2–8, generally fused at base
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile or 2–3-valved
Seeds 1–many, generally black, generally shiny
Genera in family: ± 20 genera, ± 400 species: generally temp Am, Australia, s Africa; some cultivated (Lewisia, Portulaca, Calandrinia )
Reference: [Bogle 1969 J Arnold Arbor 50:566–598]
Family description and key to genera by Dieter H. Wilken & Walter A. Kelley.

CLAYTONIA

Kenton L. Chambers

Annual or perennial herb, from stolon, rhizome, tuber, or taproot, glabrous, ± fleshy
Leaves entire; basal 0–many, rosetted; cauline generally 2, generally opposite, free to fully fused into ± 2-toothed disk or cup surrounding stem
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal, 1-sided; pedicels reflexed, becoming erect in fruit
Flower: petals 5, pink or white; stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary chamber 1, placentas basal, style 1, stigmas 3
Fruit: capsule; valves 3, margins rolling inward and forcibly expelling seeds
Seeds 3–6, generally black, generally clearly appendaged
Species in genus: 28 species: North America, e Asia
Etymology: (John Clayton, colonial Am botanist, born 1686)
Reference: [Miller 1978 Syst Bot 3:322–341; Miller & Chambers 1993 Novon 3:268–273]
Some species formerly placed in Montia.

Native

C. sibirica L.

CANDY FLOWER

(Annual) generally per; caudex short, < 1 cm diam, vertical, brownish; rhizomes and stolons short, sometimes forming offset rosettes; taproot slender
Stem 5–60 cm, spreading to erect
Leaves: basal 3–30 cm, blade 1–8 cm, oblanceolate to deltate, base truncate to long-tapered, tip obtuse to long-tapered, some petioles often with bulb-like base; cauline 1–8 cm, free, lanceolate to ovate, sessile, generally acute
Inflorescence simple or branched, stalked, open, bracted throughout; flowers generally 10–20
Flower: sepals 3–6 mm; petals 6–12 mm, generally pinkish; stamens maturing well before stigmas
Fruit 2.5–3.5 mm
Seed 1.5–2 mm, round to elliptic, shiny or dull
Chromosomes: 2n=12,24,36
Ecology: Generally shady moist woodlands, streambanks, marshes
Elevation: < 1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, High Cascade Range, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Synonyms: Montia s. (L.) Howell
Horticultural information: DRN, SHD, IRR: 4, 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17.