Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
Claytonia perfoliata (Miner's lettuce, Winter Purslane, Spring Beauty, or Indian lettuce; syn. Montia perfoliata) is an annual herb in the Montiaceae (Montia) family. It is native to a large portion of western North America, including almost every county in California. It is a trailing plant, growing to a maximum of 40 centimeter in length, but mature plants can be as small as 1 centimeter. The cotyledons are usually bright green (sometimes purplish or brownish-green), succulent, long and narrow. The first true leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant, and are 0.5-4 centimeter long, with an often long petiole (exceptionally up to 20 centimeter long). Mature leaves are round, succulent and edible, leading to the common name. The small white flowers have five petals 2-6 millimeter long; they appear from February to May or June, and are grouped 5-40 together above a pair of leaves that are united together around the stem to appear as one circular leaf. Mature plants have numerous erect to spreading stems that branch from the base. The presence of Miner's Lettuce is indicative of a healthy oak woodland. This plant tends to be more drought tolerant near the coast or in other cool weather areas.
Calscape
https://calscape.org/loc-California/Claytonia-perfoliata-(Miner's-Lettuce)
