PortulacaceaeThe Purslane Family

Alex Stalboerger

Portulacaceae

• 450 species and 12 genera

• Includes herbs and shrubs

• Leaves usually succulent

http://www.earthhealing.info/Claytonia%20virginica.jpg

Portulacaceae• Flowers are distinctive for having only 2 sepals• May be 3 to 16 petals, most commonly they have 5 petals• Each flower has at least 3 stamens and pistils• Dry fruit encloses multiple seeds• Flowers: White to pale pink• Blooms: March – May• Leaves: Narrow and fleshy at base of stem, shiny and fleshy at

top below blooms• Habitat: Shady, damp soil, usually alongside trails

Claytonia virginica

• 5-40cm tall• Flowers are 7-14mm in

diameter– Five petals: pale pink or

white (rarely yellow)• Leaves are slender

lanceolate– 3-14cm long and 5-13mm

broad– 6-20cm long petiole

https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~jhayden/landscape_plants/perennials_class_2008/native_perennials/claytonia_virginica_DUTCHGAP_02S.JPG

http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/spring%20beauty%20claytonia%20virginica%20mason%20farm%2031109%202.JPG

Claytonia virginica North American Distribution

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=clvi3

Sources

• http://www.succulent-plant.com/families/portulacaceae.html

• http://plants.montara.com/ListPages/FamPages/Portulaca.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claytonia_virginica

• All images have URL at the base