Claytonia caroliniana Michaux. Carolina Spring-beauty. Phen: Mar-May. Hab: Moist forests, especially northern hardwood forests and cove forests at moderate to high elevations. Dist: NS west to MN, south to w. NC, e. TN, and n. GA; disjunct (?) in AR (see discussion).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The history of reports of this species from AR (Gentry et al. 2013, Miller & Chambers 2006, Smith 1988, Smith, 1994, Evans, & Witsell 2013) is complex and multi-faceted. It is the name that was applied to plants of C. arkansana before the description of C. ozarkensis, but has also sometimes been applied to wide-leaved plants of C. virginica (corresponding to C. virginica forma robusta (Somes) Palmer & Steyermark). More recently it has been applied to a few curious specimens that fit the morphology of C. caroliniana more closely than that of C. arkansana or C. virginica, but occur in or near the range of C. arkansana. It is possible that these represent hybrids between C. arkansana and C. virginica and further study is warranted. There records of C. caroliniana from Indiana are apparently erroneous (S. Namestnik, pers. comm., 2022).

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA4, G, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Va, W, Davis (1966), Miller & Chambers (2006), Snyder (1992a); > Claytonia caroliniana Michx. var. caroliniana – K1; > Claytonia caroliniana Michx. var. lewisii McNeill – K1

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 3