Plants perennial, with globose tubers 5-20 mm diam.; periderm 1-5 mm. Stems 1-10 cm. Leaves: basal leaves 1-6, often absent at flowering, blade linear to lanceolate, 5-40 × 0.2-1.6 cm; cauline leaves sessile, blade ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 1-6 × 0.5-2 cm. Inflorescences 1-bracteate (rarely with 2 bracts). Flowers 8-14 mm diam.; sepals 4-6 mm; petals white to pink, rose, magenta, yellow, or deep orange, 5-20 mm; ovules 6. Seeds 2-2.5 mm diam., shiny and smooth; elaiosome 1-2 mm. 2n = 12, 16, 24, 32, 36, 44, 48, 52, 64, 74, ca. 90.

Flowering Apr-Jul. Sagebrush and montane foothills to alpine areas, particularly where snow persists; 500-3000 m; Alta., B.C., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Some differences of opinion exist regarding the relationships of Claytonia lanceolata and C. rosea. The work of D. K. Halleck and D. Wiens (1966) and J. S. Shelly et al. (1998) provides ample justification for their recognition as distinct species.

PLANT: Erect perennial herbs to 21 cm tall, arising from a spherical corm, 0.8 - 2.6 cm wide.

LEAVES: basal leaves none to few, ovate to lanceolate, cauline leaves usually 2, sessile to short-petiolate, linear to narrowly lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE: a short simple or branched raceme or cyme.

FLOWERS: 1-9; sepals 2.7-8 mm long; petals 5 - 20 mm long, smooth at tip, white or pink, the base sometimes yellow.

SEEDS: 2.2 - 2.5 mm long, black.

NOTES: Widespread, woodlands and meadows throughout w N. Amer.

REFERENCES: Allison Bair, Marissa Howe, Daniela Roth, Robin Taylor, Tina Ayers, and Robert W. Kiger., 2006, Vascular Plants of Arizona: Portulacaceae. CANOTIA 2(1): 1-22.