Claytonia parviflora
Miner's lettuce
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Claytonia parviflora (Miner's lettuce) is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family.
Miner's lettuce is a California native annual herb found throughout California's coastal ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Central Valley in grasslands, open woodlands, and disturbed areas. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers typically 3 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall that spread or grow upright, the plant has a distinctive growth habit with unique leaf structures. Its basal leaves are linear to narrowly oblanceolate, while the cauline leaves are particularly notable for sometimes forming a round or square disk-like structure up to 5 centimeters in diameter. The tiny, shiny seeds are ovate to round, reflecting this adaptable plant's delicate and intricate botanical design.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species.
Habitat and range
California counties: Mendocino, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Contra Costa, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Kern, Inyo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, El Dorado, San Luis Obispo, Mariposa, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tulare, Tuolumne, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Solano, Amador, Orange, Calaveras, Lake, Marin, Colusa, Sacramento, Merced, Nevada, Butte, Tehama, Humboldt, Monterey, Glenn, Plumas, Sierra, Yolo, Placer, San Joaquin, Sutter, Napa, San Mateo
How to tell it apart
vs Montia: Claytonia has just 2 stem leaves opposite or fused; Montia has multiple stem leaves arranged alternately.; vs Stellaria: Claytonia has 2 broad stem leaves and 5 petals; Stellaria has many narrow opposite leaves and deeply notched petals.; vs Hydrocotyle: Claytonia has 5-petaled flowers above paired stem leaves; Hydrocotyle has round shield-like leaves and tiny flower clusters.; vs Lewisia: Claytonia has thin leaves on upright stems in moist areas; Lewisia forms succulent rosettes on rocky cliffs.; vs Dichondra: Claytonia has upright stems with 5-petaled flowers; Dichondra is a creeping plant with kidney-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claytonia parviflora native to California?
Yes. Claytonia parviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Claytonia parviflora grow?
Claytonia parviflora occurs in Mendocino, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Contra Costa, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura, Kern and other counties.
What plant family does Claytonia parviflora belong to?
Claytonia parviflora is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.