spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON NAMES:
spring beauty
Virginia springbeauty
narrow-leaved spring beauty

 

SCIENTIFIC SYNONYMS: There are no scientific synonyms for
Claytonia virginica.

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Pending confirmation.

 

TAXONOMY: The currently accepted scientific name of spring beauty
is Claytonia virginica L. Spring beauty is a unique member of the Purs-

lane Family that is easy to distinguish from other wildflowers. Look for

pink- stripes, whether pale or bright, on the petals of the flowers, and

only 2 sepals underneath. In southeastern United States, there is Clay-

tonia carolina (Carolina beauty), which has a similar appearance to

spring beauty (the leaves of this species are usually broader than those

of spring beauty), but it has not been observed in Facquier County. Claytonia carolina is listed within Family Montiaceae) in the Flora of Virginia.

 

NATIVE STATUS: Native, United States and Canada.

 

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Habit: This native perennial plant is about 3-6" tall, consisting of a

flowering stem with a pair of opposite cauline leaves and some basal

leaves. The stem is light green or slightly reddish green, glabrous,

and rather succulent.

 

Leaves: The basal leaves and the pair of cauline leaves are linear or

linear-lanceolate, recurved, glabrous, smooth along the margins, and

rather fleshy. There is a single central vein along the length of each

leaf. The leaves are about 3-6" long; their width varies considerably

depending on the local ecotype, but it is usually about ¼" across.

 

Flowers: The stem terminates in a floppy raceme of flowers. Each

flower is up to ½" across when fully open, consisting of 5 petals, 2

green sepals, 5 stamens with pink anthers, and a pistil with a tri-

partite style. The petals are white with fine pink stripes; these

stripes vary from pale pink to bright pink. The flowers open up on

warm sunny days, and close during cloudy weather or at night.

They are more or less erect while open, but nod downward while

closed. There is a pleasant floral scent.

 

Fruit/Seeds: Each fertilized flower produces an ovoid capsule con-

taining several seeds; this capsule is enclosed by the 2 persistant

sepals.

 

Roots: The root system consists of a small round corm and second-

ary roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself, and can become

abundant in some areas.

 

REGENERATION PROCESS: Spring beauty propogates itself by

reseeding.

 

HABITAT TYPES: Habitats include moist to dry deciduous woodlands,
savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, city parks, old cemeteries, and lawns (par-
ticularly near trees). Less often, this species is found in mesic prairies, but
it is primarily a woodland plant. Spring Beauty can survive more environ-
mental degradation than most spring-blooming woodland species, includ-

ing occasional grazing by cattle and partial clearing of trees. This is one

reason why it is still common.

 

SITE CHARACTERISTICS: The preference is dappled sunlight during
the spring, moist to slightly dry conditions, and a rich loamy soil with

abundant organic matter. This plant will adapt to semi-shaded areas of

lawns if mowing is delayed during the spring. The easy way to start plants

is by obtaining their corms, although these are difficult to find or expen-

sive to buy from nurseries. This attractive wildflower is a sure sign that

spring has arrived and that the local woodlands are full of wildflowers.

When spring beauty and these other wildflowers are conspicuously absent

from a woodlands, this indicates that it has been subjected to severe de-

gradation from plows or bulldozers at some point in the past.

 

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT: The blooming period occurs from mid-

to late spring and lasts about a month.

 

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION: Spring beauty is primarily a species of

the eastern United States. With the exception of Florida in the south, and
the New England states and maritime provinces of Canada, spring beauty

can be found as far west as the southern Great Plains. It is not naturally

found in the southwest, Rocky Mountain states, and the far west and

northwestern states. It is not found farther west than Ontario in Canada.

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION: To be determined.

 

IMPORTANCE AND USES: Aside from insect pollination, little is
known about floral-faunal relationships. Various kinds of bees visit the
flowers, include honey bees, bumblebees, little carpenter bees, mason
bees, Nomadine cuckoo bees, miner bees, Halictid bees (including green
metallic bees), and Andrenid bees. Many flies also visit the flowers,
including Syrphid flies, the giant bee fly (Bombylius major), carrion flies,
Muscid flies, and Anthomyiid flies. Less often, various butterflies and
skippers visit the flowers. These insects usually seek nectar; some of the
bees also collect pollen. It is possible that the corms, which are edible, are
eaten occasionally by voles and other small rodents. They can be eaten by
humans as well, but their small size makes this impractical.

 

 

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