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Carolina springbeauty
Scientific Name: Claytonia caroliniana var. lewisii
Family: Portulacaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Carolina Springbeauty (Claytonia caroliniana)
Carolina springbeauty, scientifically known as Claytonia caroliniana, is a delightful herbaceous perennial that graces the eastern North American landscape. Often considered an indicator of the changing seasons, this wildflower is a welcome sight in early spring.
Common Names
- Carolina Spring Beauty
- Wide-leaved Spring Beauty
- Good Morning Spring
- Rose Elf
- Broad-Leaved Spring Beauty
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Claytonia caroliniana Michx.
- Family: Montiaceae (formerly Portulacaceae)
Distribution and Habitat
Claytonia caroliniana is native to eastern North America. It is particularly common in moist woodlands and rich open areas. Specific locations mentioned include:
- New England deciduous forests
- Minnesota
- Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina
- Uplands of Tennessee
- Connecticut
- Western Pennsylvania (Youghiogheny River Trail)
- Paul Smiths VIC, New York
- Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Herbaceous perennial with a stem that grows 3 to 10 inches tall.
- Features small, 5-petaled flowers that range from pink to white, often with darker pink veins and pink-tipped stamens.
- Leaves are broader and shorter compared to Claytonia virginica, with oval to oblong shapes.
Quirky Facts
- The entire Carolina Spring Beauty plant, from root to blossoms, is edible.
- It is one of the earliest-flowering spring ephemerals.
Further Information
- Discover Life: Provides details about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Claytonia caroliniana.
- wpclipart.com: Offers public domain images of Carolina Spring Beauty.