86 PURSLANE FAMILY 



2. L. nevadensis Rob. Leaves several from the globular 

 or somewhat elongated thick root, linear, 2 to 5 in. long, 

 commonly exceeding the flower-stalk. Sepals 2, not gland- 

 ular. Petals 6 to 8, white, about y 2 in. long. Stamens 10 to 

 12. Styles 4 or 5. (Calandrinia nevadensis Gray. Oreobroma 

 nevadensis Howell.) 



The thick, fleshy petals, often suffused with pink, render 

 this plant quite conspicuous in low, moist places, notwith- 

 standing its low stature. It grows in moist soil along meadow 

 borders at altitudes of 5000 to at least 9000 ft., as on Ascen- 

 sion Mt., and in Stubblefield Canon. 



3. L. pygmaea Rob. Pygmy Lewisia. Leaves numerous, 

 from the summit of a carrot-like root, linear, ^ to 2 or 3 in. 

 long, mostly exceeding the flower-stalks. Sepals 2, the margin 

 with a row of purple glands. Petals 6 to 8, white or rose-red, 

 about 54 m - long- (Calandrinia pygmaea Gray. Oreobroma 

 pygmaea Howell.) 



This attractive little plant, usually recognized in its fresh 

 state by the purple-fringed sepals, is encountered only near 

 timber-line (Snow Flat, Mt. Dana, etc.), where it often grows 

 in soil kept moist by melting banks of snow. 



4. L. triphylla Rob. Stems slender, 1 to several, from a 

 globose corm. Leaves a pair or a whorl of 3 to 5 midway of 

 the stem, linear, Y 2 to 2y 2 in. long. Flowers on slender 

 pedicels. Sepals 2, entire. Petals 54 m - or l ess long. 

 (Claytonia triphylla Wats. Oreobroma triphylla Howell.) 



The classification of this delicate plant has given botanists 

 no end of trouble, but because of the crosswise splitting of 

 its capsules it seems to belong in this genus. The flowers, 

 although somewhat fleshy, are very dainty, being of a light- 

 pink color. The species is well distributed in the mountains 

 and grows in moist soil. 



2. MONTIA. 



Fibrous-rooted succulent herbs. Sepals 2, rounded, com- 

 monly a little unequal. Petals 5 or fewer. Stamens 3 to 5. 

 Capsule 3-valved, opening down the sides; seeds 2 to 5. 

 (Claytonia, of some authors.) 



Flowering stems with a single pair of leaves united into a 



disk 1 • M. perfoliata. 



Flowering stems with opposite leaves 



Petals equal, much exceeding the sepals 2. M. chamissoi. 



Petals unequal, scarcely exceeding the sepals 3. M. fontana. 



Flowering stems with alternate leaves. 



Stamens 5 ; stems simple 4. M. parvifolia. 



Stamens 3 ; stems erect, branched 5. M. linearis. 



