Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd.
Family: Montiaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

Montia perfoliata (Donn ex. Willd.) Howell

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

miner's lettuce

Primary Disseminule Type

seed

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a dehiscent (by 3 valves) capsule, ovoid to subglobose, 1.5–4 mm long, containing 2–6 seeds.

Seed round or ovate in outline, compressed, cross-section lens-shaped, with a protruding notch along the margin where hilum occurs which is typically plugged with a large (0.3–0.5 mm across) whitish to yellowish appendage (i.e., elaiosome, funicular remnant, aril), 1–3(5) mm diameter x 0.7–1.2 mm thick. Surface shiny, ± smooth (under magnification, cobblestone-like near margin, otherwise with large and small pitting), black.

Hilar region a large (0.6–0.8 mm across) elliptical hole, typically plugged with the appendage mentioned above.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, AUWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI