Narrow-Leaved Spring Beauty
Claytonia
virginica
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Spring Beauty
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These
tiny, delicate little wildflowers are the epitome of a spring ephemeral. This
species is usually found in rich hardwood forest at lower elevations, as opposed
to the caroliniana. The tiny plants just barely peek out over the leaf litter
in early spring, sometimes carpeting entire hillsides. 
The
flowers, about 1/3 inch across, are composed of 5 petals. The petals are white-to-pink
with pink vertical streaks. Each plant may have many, many blooms. In our area
there are two species - virginica on the left, and caroliniana
which prefers higher elevations. You can tell them apart by the leaves-caroliniana
leaves are short and broad, virginica are grasslike. The caroliniana
flowers are usually more white, while the virginiana flowers are usually more
noticeably pink. fdudley@weaversites.com
Fiona Dudley
Weaversites
986 Reems Creek Road
Weaverville NC 28787
828-231-1501
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