110 PORTULACACEJE. Claytonia. 



• Clattonu proper. Perennial i stems simple, arising from a subterranean cormns or rhizoma : cauline leaves 2, opposite, 



distinct: raceme terminal, rarely geminate. 



1. Claytonia Virginica, Linn. Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty. 



Leaves all linear and linear-lanceolate, elongated and attenuated into a petiole below ; ra- 

 dical ones very few ; raceme at length elongated ; pedicels slender, nodding ; petals mostly 

 emarginate. — Michx. fl. \. p. 160 ; Bot. mag. t. 941 ; Pursh, fl.l. p. 175 ; Ell. sk. 1. 

 p. 306; Bart. f. Am. Sept. t. 51 ; Torr. Jl. I. p. 259 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 98 ; Hook. fl. 

 Bar.- Am. 1. p. 224 ; DC. prodr. 3. p. 361 ; Sweet, Brit.fl. gard. (ser. 2.) 1. 163 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 140 ; Torr. <^ Gr.fl. N. Am. 1. p. 198. C. grandiflora, Sweet, I. c. t. 216. 



Cormus fleshy and farinaceous, situated deep in the ground. Stem 6-10 inches high, 

 weak, erect or procumbent. Leaves 2-4 inches long and 2-3 lines wide, mostly rather 

 acute, succulent. Racemes 5 - 12 : pedicels recurved ; the lowest ones with a small bract 

 at the base. Sepals variable, usually with an abrupt blunt point, but often quite obtuse ; a 

 little recurved after flowering. Petals, elliptical or obovate, sometimes rather acute, pale rose- 

 color with deeper colored veins. Stamens shorter than the petals. Style longer than the 

 stamens : stigmas spreading. Capsule ovoid-globose. Seeds tumid-lenticular, 3 - 5, black, 

 minutely striate-rugose, but shining. 



Low moist grounds, and damp woods. April - May. 



2. Claytonia Caroliniana, Michx. Broad-leaved Spring Beauty. 



Leaves ovate-lanceolate or oval, somewhat spatulate, or abruptly decurrent into a petiole ; 

 radical ones very few, spatulate ; pedicels slender, nodding ; sepals and petals very obtuse. — 

 Michx. fl.l. p. 160; Ell. sk. 1. p. 306 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. ^. 199. C. spathulae- 

 folia, Salisb. parad. Land. t. 71 ; Pursh, fl. l.p. 174 ; Nutt. gen. l.p. 152. C. spathulata, 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 98. C. Virginica, var. latifolia, Torr. fl. 1. p. 259. C. Virginica, var. 

 spathulaefoha, DC. prodr. 3. p. 361 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. l.p. 224, 



Cormus as in the preceding species. Stem 4-8 inches high. Leaves 1-3 inches long 

 and 5-8 lines wide ; the cauline ones sometimes oval. Sepals roundish-ovate. Petals entire 

 or slightly emarginate. Seeds as in C. Virginica. 



Woods, usually in hilly or mountainous places ; common in the northern and western parts 

 of the State, but not found in the valley of the Hudson below the Highlands. April. Very 

 near the preceding species, and regarded by many botanists as only a variety of it. 



