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miner's lettuce
Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata
Family: Portulacaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual, Perennial
Other Names:
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
Miner's lettuce, a delicate and nutritious plant, has a rich history and continues to be a valuable wild edible. Its mild flavor and succulent texture make it a versatile addition to salads and other dishes.
Considerations for Pets
- Miner's Lettuce is from the Portulacca family, where most of the plants contain high levels of oxalic acid.
Considerations for Children
- Miner's Lettuce is from the Portulacca family, where most of the plants contain high levels of oxalic acid.
Quirky Facts
- Its common name, Miner's Lettuce, comes from its use by California Gold Rush miners, who consumed it to prevent scurvy.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata
- Common Names: Miner's lettuce, winter purslane, Indian lettuce, spring beauty
- Family: Portulacaceae (sometimes also classified in Montiaceae)
- Synonym: Montia perfoliata
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to North America.
- Found from British Columbia south to Guatemala and east into Alberta, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah.
- Often found in disturbed and waste ground.
- Prefers moist, shady positions.
Morphology and Growth Habits
- Annual broadleaf plant.
- Petite and delicate in appearance.
- Characterized by thin, succulent lemon-lime stems.
- Features kelly green-colored basal leaves, sometimes described as heart-shaped.
- Grows up to 1 foot tall and wide, forming a mounding habit.
Culinary Uses
- Eaten as a leaf vegetable, often raw in salads.
- Described as tart, smooth, a little crunchy, and "green" tasting.
- Can be cooked similarly to spinach.
Nutritional Value
- Good source of vitamin C, iron, and calcium.