Cistanthe umbellata (syn. Calyptridium umbellatum) is a low growing tap rooted perennial generally dispaying two or more basal rosettes of thick, spoon-shaped leaves about an inch long. The inflorescence are spherical umbels of rounded sepals and four small sharply pointed petals on each flower. The colors can vary from cream through light pink. In the Sierra Nevada it can be found growing at a wide range of elevations from 2,500'-14,000'. I usually find it on very gritty/clay slopes exposed to full sun. Easy from seed but requires a very well drained sight, that dries out through the summer.
Botanists disagree on the genera, Calyptridium or Cistanthe, and also on witch family it belongs to. It is a Portulaceae, in most publications I have looked at, but was moved to Montiaceae by some taxonomists.
I'm not sure were it should be pigeon holed???? :rolleyes:
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Cistanthe+...
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415724
http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/cascade/5petal/purslane/calyptri...
This last shot is of it in seed. Note how the umbels have lifted off the surface of the ground on this sunny day. This is a common occurrence when the sun is shining.
