Sierra springbeauty facts for kids

The Sierra springbeauty (Claytonia nevadensis) is a beautiful wildflower. It's also called Sierra Nevada claytonia. This plant belongs to the Montiaceae family. Scientists are still studying how it's related to other plants in the Claytonia group.

Where the Sierra Springbeauty Lives

The Sierra springbeauty is a special plant. It grows naturally only in certain places. This means it is endemic to northern California and south-central Oregon.

You can find it in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It grows as far south as Farewell Gap. It also lives in the Sweetwater Range and Trinity Mountains. Other homes include the Inner Klamath Range and the southern Cascade Range. You can even find it northeast to Steens Mountain in Oregon.

This wildflower likes to grow in high mountain areas. These are called subalpine habitats. It often grows in rocky slopes called scree. It also likes gravelly banks next to streams that come from melting snow.

What the Sierra Springbeauty Looks Like

The Claytonia nevadensis is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows from a network of fleshy underground stems. These stems are called rhizomes. It has a small, flat base at ground level called a caudex. The plant forms a leafy clump. Its stem is usually no longer than about 10 centimeters (4 inches).

Its leaves are thick and have a red-green color. They are shaped like an oval or a spade. Each leaf is a few centimeters long. The leaves closest to the ground have longer stalks. These stalks are called petioles.

The flowers grow in a dense group. This group is called an inflorescence. It usually has 2 to 8 flowers. The flowers sit within the clump of leaves. Sometimes they grow on a very short stalk. Each flower has five petals. The petals can be magenta, pink, or white. They can be up to a centimeter (about half an inch) long. This plant blooms from July to September.