Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd.

Fleshy taprooted annual. Stems erect or ascending, 10–30 cm tall. Rosette lvs entire; lamina rhomboid to spathulate to broadly ovate, subacute or acute, (5)–10–30 × (5)–10–35 mm; petiole (1.5)–5–15 cm long. Stem lvs 2, united to form a 1–3 cm wide suborbicular involucre to the infl. Infl. a (1)–5–15-flowered bracteate raceme with 1–5 basal fls, all fls clustered at first. Bracts obovate, subacute, 3–6 × 1–4 mm. Pedicels (3)–5–15 mm long. Sepals persistent, broadly ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Petals 5, white, entire or notched, 2–3–(6) mm long. Stamens 5, opposite the petals. Capsule subglobose, < sepals. Seeds 1–(3) per capsule, elliptic, smooth, shiny, black with white aril, 1.2–1.5 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Nov.; Fruiting: Oct.–Jan.