Claytonia
Claytonia springbeauty
Springbeauties are early spring prennial herbs arising from rounded tubers with one pair of opposite cauline leaves below the inflorescence. Infloresence is a loose raceme with five-petaled flowers of white or pinkish. There are 5 stamens with pink anthers, each opposite a petal. Fruit is a 3-valved capsule with 1 to 2 seeds per valve.
APG/Taxonomization Info
This genus was moved from purslane family (Portulacaceae) to Montaceae by the APG IV system.
The genus was named for John Clayton, who was Clerk to the County Court of Gloucester County, Virginia, from 1720 until his death in 1771. Clayton was one of the earliest collectors of plant specimens in that state.
