Claytonia (Montia) cordifolia
Heartleaf Springbeauty

Family: Portulaceae (Purslane family)

Photo taken at Swauk Pass, moist wooded area next to creek (0.1 to 0.5 meters away)

photo of Claytonia cordifolia

Flowers:

racemes without bracts except for the lowest flower; petals mostly 6 to 13 mm, white, 5 in number; 2 persistent sepals


Leaves:

one pair of stem leaves, opposite, 1 to 5 cm broad, not connate


Plant:

perennial or annual. Plant eaten raw as relish by the Montana Indians.


Habitat:

wet places, often in the mountains

Distribution of species:

British Columbia to California, both sides of the Cascades, east to western Montana and Utah


Distribution of genus:

12 species: America, Siberia, and Australia