Claytonia lanceolata

Western Spring Beauty

Western Spring Beauty
aka Spring Beauty, Lanceleaf Springbeauty. White flowers 1/4″ – 3/4″ (5 – 15 mm) wide are accentuated with deep pink veins each with five petals and five stamens. Stems are up to 8″ and grow from a deeply buried bulb, or corm – a tiny potato which has been a valuable food source for aboriginal people. Also a favorite of grizzly bears (although not in Rainier!). The stems have two opposite leaves and cup the flower with only two sepals. At higher elevations this beauty may not reveal itself until July. Common in the alpine meadows usually above 5,000′ elevation.

Family:

Montiaceae - MINER'S LETTUCE FAMILY

Genus:

Claytonia after botanist John Clayton, born in 1685

Species:

lanceolata refers to the leaves which are shaped like blades of a spear
Photo location: From one location at the eastern end of the Grand Park plain, approx. 5,500′ elev.