Carolina Spring Beauty

(Claytonia caroliniana)

 

   

 

 

Color photograph: Homer D. House. 1918. Wildflowers of New York.

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

 

Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana Michx.)

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 broad, opposite leaves at about the midpoint of the stem. Leaves widest about one-third the distance from the stem and tapering to a distinct petiole.Plant arising from a bulb. Plant 6 to 12 inches in height.

Distribution: Southern Canada southward in the mountains to Georgia.

Habitat: Carolina Spring Beauty is found in woods, particularly montane forest.

Flowering period: March to May.

Similar Species: Carolina Spring Beauty is similar to Spring Beauty. However the leaves of Spring Beauty are linear, not broad near the base, and not tapering to a distinct petiole.

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