Claytonia acutifolia
Bering Sea Spring Beauty
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Portulacaceae
- Genus
- Claytonia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.2 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
Root - raw or cooked[5][6][1]. Large and fleshy[3]. The root was usually eaten with oil[4]. Leaves - raw or cooked[3]. Flowers - raw[3]. A nice decoration in a salad.
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Environment
- Range
- N. America to Asia in the Arctic circle.
- Habitat
- Tundra and stony slopes of bald mountains[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow on a peat based compost in spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks at 10°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Division of offsets in spring or autumn.
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a damp peaty lime-free soil and a position in full sun[2].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00