Madrean springbeauty

Claytonia rosea grow a small round tuber 20–100 mm in size with a corky or woody skin that is 5–10 mm thick to protect it. The stems can be 2–15 cm (0.8–6 in) long, but are absent when the plant is not large enough to flower. When the plant is young it will have leaves that rise directly from the soil on individual leaf stems (basal leaves). These basal leaves are blade linear to narrowly spatulate, 1–7 cm (0.39–2.8 in) long and 0.4–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. This difference helps to distinguish them from Claytonia lanceolata with its wider leaves. In addition, close examination of the leaves will show that C. rosea has leaves that are single ribbed or indistinctly triple ribbed in contrast to the distinctly triple ribbed leaves of C. lanceolata. When large enough to flower the basal leaves may be absent and instead there will be several leaf-like bracts that are attached to the flowering stem, the same blade linear shape and 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) long. All of its leaves have a pointed end that may be slightly acute or obtuse. The leaves are fleshy/succulent, but not leathery.

Flowers and seeds. The flower or bud will usually have multiple bracts, though rarely there will be just one bract. The bract that is closest to the flower will be leaf like, while the more distant ones are reduced to thin scales. Each flowering stem (inflorescence) will have about five to ten flowers. …

Claytonia rosea is the earliest flower of spring in the foothills and montane forests. It It grows in small meadows, open hillsides, canyons, ravines, and mesas of montane ponderosa pine, Chihuahuan pine, and oak belts. In New Mexico they are reported to be found more often on north facing slopes or in shaded canyons. They are recorded growing from 800–2,400 meters (2,600–7,900 ft) in elevation. The exact range of Claytonia rosea is uncertain with different authorities recording different areas. POWO records it in the four corner states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona and the Mexican state of Coahuila. PLANTS additionally records it as growing in Wyoming and Montana. NatureServe has assessed the global status of Claytonia rosea as G4 - apparently secure, an uncommon but not rare species.

The first scientific observation of the Lasioglossum bee species L. perpunctatum was on flowers of Claytonia rosea near Boulder, Colorado by T.D.A. Cockerell and Marion Durbin Ellis.

Rocky mountain spring beauty is occasionally grown in rock gardens or by those interested in wildflower gardening. Replanted corms will persist for a time even in less than ideal conditions, but will decline without reproducing if planted in areas subjected to either extreme drying during the summer or being flooded during rainstorms. Gardeners increase the numbers of this plant by seed rather than by division. Rich, well drained soil is their preferred condition in a garden setting. Plants are tolerant of being moved when blooming. Plants will freely reseed to produce additional individuals. The roots, though small and not usually abundant, are edible. The wild foods author Harold D. Harrington found them to be crisp and starchy without much flavor when raw, but rather like earthy potatoes when boiled.

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