2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Claytonia (lat. Claytonia) - a genus of herbaceous plants of the Portulacaceae family. The genus got its name in honor of the English botanist - John Clayton. In nature, representatives of the genus grow everywhere - from North America to Alaska. Typical places are shrub, moss and lichen tundra, pebble and forb meadows, deciduous woodlands, gravelly slopes, high mountains. The popular name of the plant is spring beauty.
Common types and their characteristics
* Claytonia acutifolia (Latin Claytonia acutifolia) - the species is represented by plants with a thick root and an ascending root up to 22 cm high. Basal leaves are narrow-lanceolate or elliptical, pointed, sitting on long petioles. Stem leaves are lanceolate, opposite, in the amount of two pieces. The flowers are pink with whole petals, collected in loose racemose inflorescences. The fruit is a capsule. Seeds are black with shine, rounded, up to 3mm in diameter.
* Claytonia arctic (lat. Claytonia arctica) - the species is represented by plants with a fleshy fusiform root and stem up to 20 cm high. Basal leaves are oblong, oval or lanceolate, equipped with expanded membranous sheaths, sitting on reddish petioles. Stem leaves are curved, spreading, oblong. The flowers are pink or white, with oval petals, collected in racemose inflorescences.
* Claytonia eschscholtzii (lat. Claytonia eschscholtzii) - the species is represented by plants with a branched root and ascending reddish stems up to 20 cm high. Basal leaves are linear or narrow-lanceolate, sit on reddish petioles. Stem leaves are opposite, linear, equipped with a stem-embracing base. The flowers are white or pink, with oval notched petals, collected in loose clusters.
* Claytonia lanceolate (lat. Claytonia lanceolata) - the species is represented by plants with stems up to 25 cm high. Basal leaves are lanceolate, formed from corms located underground. The flowers are pink, purple or white with pinkish veins, collected in loose clusters up to 2 cm wide. Flowering is long, from May to July. Corms are used for food purposes. Currently, a new variety has been developed, featuring yellow flowers.
* Claytonia large-rhizome (lat. Claytonia megarhiza) - the species is represented by plants with a thick fleshy rhizome and a rosette of spatula-shaped basal leaves. The flowers are white, five-petalled. Bloom lasts from June to August. It has another variety, nivalis, distinguished by its large pink flowers.
* Claytonia nevada (lat. Claytonia nevadensis) - the species is represented by plants with stems up to 13 cm high. Basal leaves are juicy, dark green, oval, often have a reddish tint around the edges. Flowers are white or pink, in the amount of 2-6 pieces. Bloom from July to August.
* Claytonia scion (lat. Claytonia sarmentosa) - the species is represented by perennial herbaceous plants with a fusiform rhizome and thin stems. Basal leaves are green, spatulate, juicy. Stem leaves are opposite, sessile. The flowers are white or light pink, with pronounced veins, five-petal. Bloom from July to mid-August.
* Claytonia tuberous (lat. Claytonia tuberosa) - the species is represented by perennial plants with spherical or elongated ovate tubers and a single thin stem up to 25 cm high. Basal leaf in one copy, lanceolate, sits on a thin long petiole. Stem leaves are lanceolate, thickened, in the amount of 2 pieces. The flowers are white with a yellow spot, collected in loose clusters. The fruit is a capsule. Seeds are black, with shine.
The subtleties of growing
Claytonia is undemanding to growing conditions, however, the culture develops more actively on light, fertile, drained, moderately moist soils with a pH of 6, 1-7, 8. The best predecessors are tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes and cucumbers. The site for claytonia is prepared a couple of weeks before the intended sowing: the soil is dug to a depth of 20-25 cm, humus is added (2-3 kg per 1 sq. M), superphosphate (20-30 g per 1 sq. M), potassium sulfate (20-30 g per 1 sq. M), urea or ammonium nitrate (10-15 g per 1 sq. M).
Sowing claytonia is carried out repeatedly - from May to July. The planting depth is 0.5 cm. The optimum distance between plants is 10-12 cm, between rows - 20-25 cm. Klaytonia care is standard. Watering is moderate, excessive humidity will negatively affect the development of the culture and lead to rot damage. Claytonia is often attacked by aphids and slugs. To avoid such troubles, it is important to maintain optimal growing conditions. Top dressing is welcome.
Application
Some species of the genus are used in cooking and traditional medicine. The stems, leaves with petioles and flowers are used for food. They have a neutral, spicy and slightly sweet taste. Used for making salads, soups and sandwiches. It is a great alternative to spinach. Plants are also suitable for landscaping garden / summer cottages, look great in rockeries, rock gardens, flower beds, mixborders and other flower beds.
