Virginia springbeauty

Claytonia virginica

Description:

Morphology of Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica):

Growth Form:
- A small, perennial, herbaceous plant with delicate flowers.
- It grows from a small, underground tuber (corm), giving it a bulbous-like structure.
Leaves:
- Leaves are linear to lance-shaped, about 3 to 15 cm long and 2-8 mm wide.
- Basal leaves are few, while others grow along the slender stem.
Flowers:
- Flowers are star-shaped and typically 1–2 cm in diameter.
- Each flower has five white or pale pink petals, often marked with darker pink or purple veins.
- The plant produces a loose cluster of 2–10 flowers.
- Flowers open during sunny conditions and close at night or in cloudy weather.
- Blooming period: Early spring, often from March to May.
Fruit:
- After pollination, it forms a small, rounded capsule with tiny black seeds.
Stem:
- A slender, green, and often reddish stem that grows between 10–30 cm tall.

Ecology of Virginia Springbeauty:

Habitat:
- Found in moist, deciduous woodlands, meadows, forest edges, and floodplains.
- Prefers well-drained, rich soils with partial sunlight or dappled shade.
Pollinators and Reproduction:
- Primarily pollinated by native bees, including Andrena bees (miner bees).
- Flowers provide nectar and pollen, attracting early-season pollinators.
- Cross-pollination is common, but the plant is also capable of self-pollination if pollinators are scarce.
Life Cycle and Phenology:
- An ephemeral species, meaning it completes its life cycle quickly in early spring before trees fully leaf out.
- After flowering and seed dispersal, the leaves and stems die back, with the plant remaining dormant underground until the following year.
Dispersal:
- Seeds may be dispersed by ants (a process called myrmecochory), attracted to the nutrient-rich appendages on the seeds.
- The underground corm allows the plant to survive harsh summer and winter conditions.
Conservation:
- Widespread and not considered threatened, though habitat loss could reduce local populations.

Virginia springbeauty is a beautiful indicator of early spring and a key part of forest ecosystems, supporting early pollinators. Its ephemeral nature reflects its adaptation to take advantage of the short window of light in early spring.

Details:

Virginia springbeauty

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
CLVI3	Virginia springbeauty	Claytonia virginica

ITIS TSN: 20382

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Caryophyllidae

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Portulacaceae

Counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood

Natural Community: Southern Oak Forest-Oak Woodland

Curtis Community: Southern Dry-mesic Forest

Coefficient of Conservation: 6

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Forb/herb	L48(N)CAN(N)

NR40 Listed Plant	Noxious Weed:	Invasive Species (NR40):	Threatened/Endangered:	WI Natural Heritage Index:	Wetland Status
					FACU

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Foliage Light Porosity Summer:

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Height (min): 3

Height (max): 6

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Moisture Use: Medium

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Benefits:

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
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Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
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Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
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Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
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Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
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Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:

References:

Integrated Taxonomic Information System – Claytonia virginica
USDA Database – Claytonia virginica
WisFlora Database – Claytonia virginica