[The Montias of the Columbia River Gorge]
Line-leaf Montia, Lineleaf Indian Lettuce, Narrowleaf Miner's-lettuce, Narrowleaf Montia, Narrow-leaved Montia

Montia linearis

Synonym: Claytonia linearis

Line-leaf Montia, Lineleaf Indian Lettuce, Narrowleaf Miner's-lettuce, Narrowleaf Montia, Narrow-leaved Montia: Montia linearis (Synonym: Claytonia linearis)

The photo above shows a good view of the diffuse branching form of line-leaf montia as seen on the southeasternslopes of Mt. Adams.............mid May 2005. Note the long, narrow leaves which generally measure from 2-5 cm long.
Line-leaf Montia, Lineleaf Indian Lettuce, Narrowleaf Miner's-lettuce, Narrowleaf Montia, Narrow-leaved Montia: Montia linearis (Synonym: Claytonia linearis) The photo at right shows another view of the open form of line-leaf montia as seen from Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge............April 6, 2002.
Characteristics:

Line-leaf Montia is a small annual with one to several simple to freely branched, erect stems from 5-20 cm high. The leaves are on the stems. They are alternate, linear, from 2-5 cm long and 0.5-1 mm wide.

The white flowers are 5 mm long in a one-sided raceme. The 5 petals are about equal in length to slightly longer than the 2 green sepals, which range from 3-4 mm in length. It may be confused with Montia dichotoma which has sepals to 2 mm in length and is only 2-8 cm tall.

Habitat:

Line-leaf Montia is found on seasonally moist, open soils in the lowlands.

Range:

Line-leaf Montia may be found from southern British California south on both sides of the Cascades to southern California and east to northern Montana and Utah.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found the length of the gorge between the elevations of 100'-2200'.

Line-leaf Montia, Lineleaf Indian Lettuce, Narrowleaf Miner's-lettuce, Narrowleaf Montia, Narrow-leaved Montia: Montia linearis (Synonym: Claytonia linearis)

The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence of line-leaf montia from the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams...............mid May, 2005. Note that the petals are roughly equal to or slightly longer than the sepals.

Line-leaf Montia, Lineleaf Indian Lettuce, Narrowleaf Miner's-lettuce, Narrowleaf Montia, Narrow-leaved Montia: Montia linearis (Synonym: Claytonia linearis)

Lineleaf montia growing in a vernal pool with water montia (Montia fontana) at its base. Photographed at the Dancing Rock property (Friends of the Columbia Gorge) in the eastern Columbia River Gorge...................March 15, 2010.
Paul Slichter