Flower ID: IMG_0349.JPG-05-12-2017 Flower name (scientific): Claytonia virginica Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) klay-TOH-nee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh Flower name (common): Virginia Spring Beauty Family name (common): Purslane Family name (scientific): Portulacaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named in honor of John Clayton (1686 – 1773), American botanist. Specific epithet: From or of Virginia. Common name origin: From the first observation being Virginia, the bloom-time being spring, and the attractive nature of the flowers. Flower description: Size: 0.4 to 0.8 inches (1.0 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 (6 petal form uncommon) Color: pink; the corolla color is rather variable. In the Park you will see some flowers that are white with invisible (or very faint) venation, while other flowers will display an intense pink venation. The anthers are pink. Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Erect Size: 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous. Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple. Size: Basal leaves about 6 to 20 cm long, stem leaves about 4 to 15 cm long and about 5 to 15 mm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: glabrous Other: Shape: leaf, linear (FNA), linear or linear-lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, forests, prairies, part shade, moist to dry, rich soil. Fruit: Capsules are about 2.5 to 5 mm in length, containing up to 6 seeds. Seed: Black with a smooth shiny surface, approximately circular in outline, about 2 to 3 mm in diameter, with an elaisome about 1 to 2 mm in length. The elaisome appendage contains compounds that are attractive to ants, who carry the seeds away from the plant, thus aiding in seed dispersal. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The flowers of Claytonia caroliniana (Carolina Spring Beauty) are very similar, but the leaf is much wider (0.4 to 1.2 inches) than the linear leaves of C. virginica (0.3 inches in width). Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Iroquois employed the plant to prepare an anticonvulsive and a contraceptive. The plant has been used as a food source by the Algonquin and the Iroquois (Moerman, p. 167, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (NS, ON, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): na Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 19 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU