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miner's lettuce

Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana

Family: Portulacaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)

Miner's lettuce, also known as winter purslane and other names such as Indian lettuce and spring beauty, is a delightful and nutritious plant with a rich history.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • Miner's lettuce is sometimes found in disturbed and waste ground, areas that might also attract pets and children.
  • Although no specific hazards are widely known, it belongs to a family where most of the plants contain high levels of oxalic acid.
  • The plant has succulent stems and leaves.

Common Names

  • Miner's Lettuce
  • Winter Purslane
  • Indian Lettuce
  • Spring Beauty

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd.
  • Family: Portulacaceae (sometimes Montiaceae)
  • Synonym: Montia perfoliata
  • It is part of a complex of species and subspecies with slightly varying characteristics.

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.
  • Common in the American Northwest and West Coast.
  • Often found in disturbed and waste ground.
  • Prefers a moist, shady position in winter.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A petite and delicate plant in appearance.
  • A dainty-looking hardy annual.
  • Characterized by thin, succulent, lemon-lime stems that support kelly green colored basal leaves.
  • Leaves can be heart-shaped or round.
  • Grows up to 1 foot tall and wide, with a mounding habit.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "miner's lettuce" comes from its use by California Gold Rush miners as a source of vitamin C to prevent scurvy.
  • It's considered by some to have a "wood elf magic" to it.

Uses

  • Edible leaf vegetable, often used raw in salads.
  • Can also be cooked like spinach.
  • Known for its tart, smooth, slightly crunchy, and "green" tasting leaves.
  • Leaves and stems are succulent.
  • Considered a good source of vitamin C, iron, and calcium.

Further Resources

  • CalPhotos: For images of Claytonia perfoliata.