[Springbeautys and Miner's Lettuce: The Genus Claytonia East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Candy Flower, Siberian Springbeauty, Siberian Miner's Lettuce

Claytonia sibirica

Synonyms: Claytonia heterophylla, Claytonia sibirica var. bulbifera, Claytonia sibirica ssp. sibirica, Montia heterophylla, Montia sibirica, Montia sibirica var. bulbifera, Montia sibirica var. heterophylla, Montia sibirica var. sibirica

Candyflower, Candy Flower, Siberian Springbeauty: Claytonia sibirica var. sibirica (Synonyms: Claytonia heterophylla, Claytonia sibirica var. bulbifera, Claytonia sibirica ssp. sibirica, Claytonia sibirica var. heterophylla, Claytonia sibirica var. sibirica, Montia heterophylla, Montia sibirica, Montia sibirica var. bulbifera, Montia sibirica var. heterophylla, Montia sibirica var. sibirica)

Candyflower blooming in a pot at the webmaster's garden in Gresham, OR..........May 11, 2009. West of the Cascade Mountains, this species will bloom all year long (when grown in pots) when winters are mild and for 10-11 months if there is a prolonged frosty or snowy spell during the winter. Note the striping on the petals as well as the notches at the tips.

Flower of Candyflower, Candy Flower, Siberian Springbeauty: Claytonia sibirica var. sibirica (Synonyms: Claytonia heterophylla, Claytonia sibirica var. bulbifera, Claytonia sibirica ssp. sibirica, Claytonia sibirica var. heterophylla, Claytonia sibirica var. sibirica, Montia heterophylla, Montia sibirica, Montia sibirica var. bulbifera, Montia sibirica var. heterophylla, Montia sibirica var. sibirica)Characteristics:

Candy flower is an annual or short lived perennial.

Peppermint-striped petals (5 petals). The coloration is white with pink stripes, and individual petals range from 6-12 mm long. 3-5 stamens are present. The inflorescence is a raceme.

The 2 stem leaves are elliptical-shaped, thick and fleshy, ranging from 1-5 cm wide and up to 7 cm long. They appear opposite one another on the soft , fleshy stem. The lower, basal leaves have long, thin petioles (2-3 time longer than the blades) and lanceolate, elliptic, or rhombic-ovate blades from 1-4 cm wide and as long or longer. The blades may also be narrowly lanceolate and 3-10 mm wide.

Candy flower has numerous erect to decumbent stems arising 10-35 cm high.

Candy Flower wilts quickly after picking.

Current classification has changed the genus name from Montia to Claytonia.


Habitat:

Candy flower may be found in the moist rich soils of open to shady woods from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains..


Range:

Candy flower may be found over much of western North America. It may be found from Alaska south to southern California and east to Montana and Utah.


Uses:

1. Candy flower may be used as a lettuce or spinach substitute in salads. The leaves, stems, and flowers may all be eaten. All parts are high in vitamins A & C.

2. The juices may be rubbed into the hair with one's hands for use as a styling gel.

3. Early miners reportedly let ants walk over the leaves to help give it a tangy, vinegar-like flavor


Paul Slichter