Popular Studies of California Wild F lowers 89 



.different sections of the State, such as the Claytonia lanceolaia, in 

 the Alpine regions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which some- 

 what resembles and is closely related to the popular Eastern Spring 

 Beauty (Claytonia virginica) and Claytonia umbellata, which grows 

 in the desert mountains of Northeastern California ; also the large- 

 flowered Claytonia mibigena, to be found on Mount Diablo and in 

 Marin County. 



The several species of Montia, Claytonia, and several other 

 flowers are so variously treated by the different authors that it has 

 caused much confusion in the literature concerning them. But they 

 are all members of the Purslane Family or Portulacaceae, of which 

 the common "Pusley," Portulaca oleracea, is the type. This weed, 

 common in gardens, was first introduced from Europe. One member 

 of the family, commonly known as "Bitter-root," Lewisia rediviva, 

 is the State flower of Montana (and after which the Bitter Root 

 Mountains were named). Their large, handsome, rose-colored 

 flowers, often two inches across, are frequently found in the eastern 

 Sierras and only occasionally on the high peaks of our Coast Ranges. 

 It grows in sterile, rocky soil and has very scanty leafage, but its 

 stout roots were formerly relished by Indians for food. In California 

 this plant is more commonly called by its scientific name, "Lewisia," 

 which was bestowed in honor of Captain M. Lewis, of the Lewis 

 and Clark Expedition, and was first collected and described on their 

 memorable trip. across the continent in 1803-06. 



A striking and attractive feature of our interesting little plant, 

 the Miner's Lettuce, is furnished by the two-stemmed leaves, which 

 unite directly under the blossoms, forming a perfect saucer in shape ; 

 in fact, I have known children to call them the "saucer flowers." 

 These leaves and the stems are richly tinted with bronzed-green and 

 reddish hues. The little flowers are ordinarily white, but sometimes 

 have a pinkish-yellow cast, especially in dry, exposed places, but the 

 species is more plentifully distributed in orchards and vineyards, 

 where they are companions of the "Red Maids," which make a brief, 

 colorful dance in the early springtime and which are members of 

 the same family. It is a matter of surprise to some people to see 

 ho'w persistently these tender, succulent little plants will continue to 

 appear in cultivated places where they were apparently eradicated. 

 The Miner's Lettuce may be found blooming from February until 

 July, not only in the orchards and vineyards, but along the roadways 

 in the lower valleys and in the open woods of the mountains. 



These plants have long been cultivated in many foreign coun- 

 tries, including Cuba, for salads and pot herbs, under the name of 

 Winter Purslane. 



Early settlers are wont to look most kindly upon this plant, not 

 so much because of its olden time economic value to them, perhaps, 

 as because of its friendly ways, its familiar face like something 

 one has always known ; and indeed it has most companionable char- 

 acteristics as well as dainty, pretty blossoms. 



