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Claytonia perfoliata
Miner's lettuce with magenta buds. These will bloom a light pink. Small plant with squared leaves that have small bunches of white flowers inside rising above on stalks. "The first true leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant, and are 0.5-4 cm long, with an often long petiole (exceptionally up to 20 cm long). The small pink or white flowers have five petals 2-6 mm long; they appear from February to May or June, and are grouped 5-40 together above a pair of leaves that are united together around the stem to appear as one circular leaf. Mature plants have numerous erect to spreading stems that branch from the base." - Wikipedia
Shady, grassy hillside along trail at Daley Ranch. "It is common in the spring, and it prefers cool, damp conditions. It first appears in sunlit areas after the first heavy rains. Though, the best stands are found in shaded areas, especially in the uplands, into the early summer." - Wikipedia
"The common name Miner's lettuce refers its use by California Gold Rush miners who ate it to get their vitamin C to prevent scurvy. It can be eaten as a leaf vegetable. Most commonly it is eaten raw in salads, but it is not quite as delicate as other lettuce. Sometimes it is boiled like spinach, which it resembles in taste." - Wikipedia
Probably. The source I found was at http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plant...
Regular lettuce and water cress have manganese. I am sure this too has manganese.
Hmmm. Not sure. I found this: The nutritional composition of miner's-lettuce has been determined to be 37.1 percent protein, 42.5 percent total carbohydrate, and 12.4 percent crude fiber. The calcium:phosphorus ratio is 0.66:1.0
Is this weed high in manganese? I am assuming that manganese would give it this color.
Thank you Emma! When I looked up that species, they did show an image of an unopened flower that was this color! The flower bloomed a very light pink.
Cindy,this is what I found.
Miners’ lettuce. Claytonia perfoliata. Basal, fleshy, egg-shaped leaves have white or pinkish five-petaled flowers that seem to perforate the leaves. Early settlers may have made their salads from miners’ lettuce.
So they can have pinkish flowers too
http://www.wta.org/hiking-info/nature-on...
LOL, I didn't even notice. I'm sure it's my lack of sleep, You're always so positive and supportive. I can't imagine you would be negative :)
Sorry Cindy. I am sure you know that I mean pretty and not petty. Too many typos on my part.
I'm really curious to find out this species! I've only seen the white flowers.
petty. I would like to spot one! The miners in the back yard never grew these flowers!
Spotted on Mar 27, 2012
Submitted on Mar 28, 2012
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