[Miner's-lettuce and Montias: The Genus Montia West of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Chamisso's Montia, Toad Lily, Water Miner's-lettuce, Water Montia

Montia chamissoi

Synonyms: Claytonia chamissoi, Crunocallis chamissoi

This photo shows a close-up of the flower of water montia (with pollinating ants?) as seen in meadows along Road #4670 at Billy Meadows Guard Station in the northern Wallowa-Whitman N.F................June 28, 2008.

Inflorescence of Toad Lily, Water Montia, Water Miner's-lettuce, Chamisso's Montia: Montia chamissoi (Synonyms: Claytonia chamissoi, Crunocallis chamissoi)

Photo at right of water montia from the headwaters of Degarmo Cr., Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge........July 4, 1996.

Characteristics:

Water montia is a perennial with wide spreading rhizomes, with leafless stolons that root freely. The flower stems are erect, from 5-20 cm tall, and simple to branched. The leaves are opposite on the stems with several pairs of leaves present. Individual leaves are 2-5 cm long, oblanceolate to rhombic-obovate in shape, and from 5-17 mm wide. The leaves narrow gradually to a short petiole.

The inflorescence is a lax lax raceme arising from a leaf axil. 3-10 white or pink flowers are present. The 5 petals range from 5-8 mm long while the two green sepals are 2-3 mm long.

Uses:

Like other members of this genus, water montia may be eaten either raw, in salads, or cooked.

Habitat:

Very moist places such as bogs or grassy wetlands and seeps at low to medium elevation.

Range:

Water montia may be found from Alaska south to California (In the Pacific Northwest, it is found mostly east of the Cascades.) To the east, it may be found as far as Minnesota, Manitoba, Iowa, and south to New Mexico.

This photo shows the leaves and a few flowers of water montia as seen in meadows along Road #4670 at Billy Meadows Guard Station in the northern Wallowa-Whitman N.F........June 28, 2008.

Paul Slichter