PORTULACACE^— PURSLANE FAMILY 



SPRING-BEAUTY ^ 

 Claytonia Virginka 



Claytdnia, in honor of Doctor John Clayton, a Vir- 

 ginian botanist. 



Perennial. In thin moist woods. Nova Scotia to the 

 Northwest Territory, southward to Georgia and Texas. 



Abundant in northern Ohio. March- 

 May. 



Stem. — Simple, from a small, deep 

 tuber, often reclining, frequently 

 stained with red. 



Leaves. — Two, opposite, long and 

 narrow. 



Flowers. — Pink with deeper pink 

 veins, growing in a loose raceme, 

 opening a few at a time, one-half to 

 three-fourths of an inch across; 

 pedicels slender, at length re- 

 curved. 



Calyx. — Of two sepals, ovate, per- 

 sistent. 



Corolla. — Of five petals, slightly 

 united at the base, and notched at 

 the apex. 



Stamens. — Five, attached at the base of the petals; 

 filaments white. 



Pistil. — One, with style three-cleft at the apex. 



Pod. — One-celled, three-valved, three to six-seeded. 



54 



Spring-Beauty. Claytdnia 

 Virginka 



