Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora
Photo: parent species Claytonia parviflora · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Montiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora is a native California herb in the Montiaceae family, recognized by . Linear basal leaves plus disk stem leaves diagnostic.
Miner's lettuce is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province in vernally moist, often disturbed sites at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white to pink flowers 2 to 6 millimeters long with delicate petals. Growing with slender stems that form a distinctive disk-like base where the cauline leaves fuse together, it typically reaches heights suitable for its low-growing habitat. Its basal leaves are linear in shape, creating a delicate groundcover in springtime landscapes. The tiny seeds measure 1.2 to 2.3 millimeters, characteristic of its diminutive yet resilient nature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 19 species. Linear basal leaves plus disk stem leaves diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernally moist, often disturbed sites
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: Placer, Kern, Fresno, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, El Dorado, Nevada, Butte, Marin, Colusa, Inyo, Lake, Mariposa, Mendocino, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tulare, Shasta, Sierra, Amador, Yolo, Napa, Tuolumne, Sonoma, Modoc, Del Norte, Madera, Merced, Plumas, San Joaquin, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Alameda, Contra Costa, Glenn, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Yuba, Humboldt, Sacramento, Kings, Solano
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora blooms Mar-Jun.
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 subsp. parviflora native to California?
Yes. Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora bloom?
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora grow?
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora occurs in Placer, Kern, Fresno, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego, Riverside, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora belong to?
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora is in the Montiaceae family, genus Claytonia.
What habitat does Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora grow in?
Claytonia parviflora subsp. parviflora grows in Vernally moist, often disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Claytonia parviflora subsp. utahensis
- Claytonia parviflora subsp. viridis
- Claytonia peirsonii — Peirson's spring beauty
- Claytonia peirsonii subsp. bernardinus — San bernardino spring beauty
- Claytonia peirsonii subsp. californacis — Furnace spring beauty
- Claytonia peirsonii subsp. peirsonii — Peirson's spring beauty
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.