| Family: | Montiaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | spring beauty family [Zomlefer, pp. 56-58] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 19 genera; ~500 species U.S.: 9 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 8 genera |
| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K2 Co4-6 S4-6 P (2-8) | |
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | usu. cyme (may appear to be a raceme), some solitary |
| Calyx (sepals): | 2 unequal bracts (not true sepals), distinct or connate |
| Corolla (petals): | 4 to 6 (usu.5) tepals, distinct or basally connate, overlapping and uniseriate (=in a single series) |
| Androecium: | 4 to 6 (usu.5) separate |
| Gynoecium: | 2 to 8 carpels, united, superior ovary (=hypogynous), stigmas and styles free and 2 to 5 in number, ovules have free central or basal placentation |
| Fruit: | capsule |
| Other features: | small, showy flowers with nectar, pollinated by ants and other small insects |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| succulent (Kranz anatomy and C4 physiology) often prostrate |
|
| Leaves: | alternate or opposite, simple, entire, fleshy stipulate, with stipules forming hairs or scales |
| Life-history: | annual to perennial |
| Habit: | herbs to subshrubs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | warm temperate regions of N. Hemisphere, diversity centered in w. N. America and S. Africa |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Calandrinia red maids Portulaca purslane Montia miner's lettuce, candy flower Claytonia spring beauty Lewisia bitter-root |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | garden ornamentals, esp. rock gardens Lewisia bitter-root Portulaca rose-moss, purslane |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Montiaceae Claytonia |
|---|---|
| Montiaceae Lewisia |
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| Montiaceae Montia |
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| Montiaceae Montia |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
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