Claytonia
(named after John Clayton; he collected plants, mostly in Virginia, and sent them to Gronovis, who published them in his "Flora Virginica"). ORD. Portulaceae. A genus of delicate little glabrous, rather succulent, hardy annuals or perennials. Racemes terminal. Leaves quite entire; radical ones petiolate, upper usually opposite and sessile, and sometimes connate. Claytonias are of easy culture, and suited for certain parts of the rockery or wild garden. The tuberous-rooted species thrive best in damp peat soil. They may be increased by seeds, which sometimes ripen freely; or by offsets, which may be separated in spring or autumn. The fibrous-rooted species being annuals, the seeds only require to be sown in the open border in spring, in a rather moist situation.
C. caroliniana (Carolina). l. spathulate-oblong or oval-lanceolate. North America. (S. B. F. G. 208.) C. grandiflora (large-flowered). Synonymous with C. virginica. C. perfoliata (perfoliate). fl. white, small; lower pedicels of raceme in bundles. May to August. l., upper ones connate or perfoliate, forming a roundish disk; radical ones petiolate, oval-rhomboid. Root fibrous. h. 3in. to 6in. North-west America to Mexico and Cuba, 1794. Annual. This species is naturalised in many parts of Britain and other countries. (B. M. 1336.) C. sibirica (Siberian).* fl. rose-coloured; petals bifld; raceme secund. March. l. oval; radical ones petiolate; cauline ones two, opposite, sessile. Root fusiform. h. 3in. to 6in. Siberia, 1768. Perennial.(B. M. 2243.) C. virginica (Virginian).* fl. white; petals emarginate; pedicels elongated; raceme solitary, nodding. March. l. linear-lanceo late, elongated; radical ones very few. h. 3in. Roots tuberous. North America, 1768. Perennial. SYN. C. grandiflora. (B. M. 941.)