Calyptridium Umbellatum, Mt Hood Mock Pussypaws

Plants > Wildflowers > Montiaceae > Calyptridium Umbellatum

Flower clusters atop red stems - calyptridium umbellatum, Sepulcher Mountain Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Calyptridium umbellatum is quite a distinctive species; plants produce one or more small, basal rosettes of spatula-shaped leaves from which rise a single, purplish, leafless stem, topped by a dense, spherical cluster of several dozen pinkish-purple flowers. Leaves are usually around 2 inches long but can be up to 5 inches. Stems are leaning. Leaves and stems are hairless.

The small flowers have two round, white or pale pink sepals, four oblong petals, three stamens with yellow or red anthers, and a thread-like style with two stigmas. The petals and sepals are approximately equal in length. The flower cluster is between 2 and 3 inches in diameter.

Common name:

Mt hood mock pussypaws

Family:

Montia (Montiaceae)

Scientific name:

Calyptridium umbellatum

Synonym:

Cistanthe umbellata

Main flower color:

Pink

Range:

The Pacific states, the Great Basin and the northern Rocky Mountains