Calandrinia ciliata

Calandrinia ciliata is a species of flowering plant known as fringed redmaids and red-maids. While formerly included in the Purslane family, it is now treated as a member of the family Montiaceae.

It is native to western North America from British Columbia to New Mexico and Guatemala, where it is widespread and common. It can also be found in western and southern South America, from Venezuela and Colombia through the Andean countries to southern Argentina and Chile. It has been introduced to the Falkland Islands.

In the Falkland Islands iT is known by the synonym Calandrinia feltonii, and by the common name Felton's flower. It is named after Arthur Felton, a resident of the Falkland Islands, who sent specimens of the plant in 1910 to Swedish botanist Carl Skottsberg. It nearly became extinct in the wild on the islands through overgrazing.

Description

Calandrinia ciliata is an annual herb which varies greatly in size from a small patch a few centimeters wide to an erect form approaching tall. The linear or lance-shaped leaves are long and slightly succulent in texture.

The inflorescence is a raceme bearing flowers on short pedicels. The flower has usually five deep pink to red petals, each up to in length. There are two sepals at the base beneath the petals.

This is a hardy plant well adapted to many habitats and climate types. Where it is an introduced species, it is known as a minor weed.

External links

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