Bering Sea spring beauty, Siberian narrow-leafed spring beauty
Claytonia acutifolia
Family: Montiaceae
What it is like
A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has a large taproot. There are several stems each with a pair of small, narrow opposite leaves. The leaves near the base are fleshy. These are long and narrow. The root is thick and fleshy. The flowers are in clusters at the end of the branches. There are 2-5 flowers in a group and they have 5 petals. These are white or pink.
There are about 15-20 Claytonia species. They are mostly in North America. They have also been put in the family Portulacaceae.
Where it is found
It is a cold temperate plant. It grows in wet places near small rivers.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Asia, Arctic, North America, Russia, Siberia, USA
How it is used for food
The root is eaten fresh or cooked. They are sweet. They are boiled, baked or stir fried. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The raw flowers are added to salads.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Keetuk, Kegtaq