Miner's Lettuce

(Claytonia perfoliata)
(Syn: Montia perfoliata)

Other Names:

Winter purslane

Range:

Family:

Montiaceae - The spring beauty or the montia Family

Growth Type:

Herbaceous flowering annual

Height:

Can grow up to 12 inches tall, although it is commonly much shorter.

Leaves:

Small basal leaves up to 1 ½ inches long emerge first. As the plant becomes ready to flower, paired caulate leaves, which grow so closely that they appear to be a single leaf appear near the top of the flower stem.

Stem/Trunk:

Flower stems form when the plant is ready to seed.

Root:

C. perfoliata has a horizontally spreading fibrous root system.

Flower Season:

Spring

Flower Appearance:

In early spring, multiple small pink or white 5 petaled flowers approximately ½ inches long grow above the paired leaves of the flower.

Seed/Fruit:

The long, narrow, succulent, cotyledons, or seed leaves, are usually bright green, but can be purplish or brownish-green in color.

Miscellaneous characteristics:

Caution should be used when consuming as, like spinach, C. perfoliata can sometimes accumulate toxic amounts of sodium oxalate. This is a rare occurance though.

Habitat:

Look for C. perfoliata in cool, damp, environments.

Parts Used:

Arial parts of the plant

Culinary Uses:

C. perfoliata can be eaten as a trail nibble, in salads, and as a cooked vegetable similar to spinach. All edible parts of the plant are high in vtamin C. Due to this, California gold miners ate the plant to stave off scurvy, a disorder caused by vitamin C deficiency.

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

Stems, leaves and blossoms contain high levels of Vitamin C, calcium and proteins. The common name of "Miner’s lettuce" comes from the fact that miners during the California gold rush ate the plant to prevent scurvy. The plant was used historically as spring tonic for restoring appetite. Native Americans brewed a tea from the plant to use as gentle laxative.

Medicinal Actions:
Alterative, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antirheumatic, Antiscorbutic, Antiseptic, Aperient, Demulcent, Diuretic, Hepatic, Nutritive