Page authors: Ben Legler, David Giblin
Montia howellii
Howell's montia
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.

Habitat: Moist lowland areas.

Flowers: April - May

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Description:
General:

Low annual with freely-branched, spreading stems 2-6 cm. long, often rooting at the nodes.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, linear-spatulate to linear-oblanceolate, 5-20 mm. long and 0.5-1.5 mm. wide.

Flowers:

Flowers in clusters of 3-5 along the stem in the axils of scarious bracts opposite the leaves, the bracts often attached to the leaves and resembling sheathing stipules; pedicels 1-5 mm. long, recurved; sepals 2, 1 mm. long; petals white, 2-5 or wanting, about equal to the sepals; stamens 2 or 3; style 1, short, the stigmas 3, sessile.

Fruits:

Flowers in clusters of 3-5 along the stem in the axils of scarious bracts opposite the leaves, the bracts often attached to the leaves and resembling sheathing stipules; pedicels 1-5 mm. long, recurved; sepals 2, 1 mm. long; petals white, 2-5 or wanting, about equal to the sepals; stamens 2 or 3; style 1, short, the stigmas 3, sessile.

Accepted Name:
Montia howellii S. Watson
Publication: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 18: 191. 1883.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Claytonia howellii (S. Watson) Piper
Maxia howellii (S. Watson) Ö. Nilsson
Montiastrum howellii (S. Watson) Rydb.
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Montia howellii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Montia howellii checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Montia howellii information.

E-Flora BC: Montia howellii atlas page.

CalPhotos: Montia howellii photos.

USDA Plants: Montia howellii information.

17 photographs:
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