Spring Beauty

(Claytonia virginica)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica L.)

Identification: Flowers white, star-like, petals usually lined and/or tinged with pink to lilac. Flowers in a small, loose panicle. Stem smooth, single. Plant with a single pair of long, linear, opposite leaves at about the midpoint of the stem. A single leaf may arise from the base of the plant. Plant arising from a bulb. Plant 6 to 12 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of eastern North America.

Habitat: Spring Beauty is found in wet woods and is sometimes particularly common in riverine woods.

Flowering period: March to May.

Similar Species: Carolina Spring Beauty is similar to Spring Beauty. However the leaves of Carolina Spring Beauty are wider. In particular the the leaves are broadest about one-third the distance from the stem and taper to a defined petiole.

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