Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in the Wenatchee Mountains of Washington; in scattered locations from Northwest Territories to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Gravelly soil and talus slopes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Perennial from a fleshy, elongated, simple or forked taproot up to 2 cm. thick, the crown simple or branched, the flowering stems several to many.
Basal leaves numerous, fleshy, forming rosettes, the blade obovate-oblanceolate, 5-25 mm. wide, narrowed to a petiole 1- to 3-times as long as the blade; cauline leaves 2, opposite, reduced, linear.
Inflorescence a flat-topped raceme with 2-9 bracteate flowers; pedicels 5-40 mm. long; sepals 2, green or reddish, obtuse or acute, persistent, 4-9 mm. long; petals 5, white to rose or deep pink, 7-15 mm. long; stamens 5, attached to the base of the petals; style 1, with 3 short stigmas.
Capsule ovoid, 4-5 mm. long.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Claytonia megarhiza in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Claytonia megarhiza checklist entry
OregonFlora: Claytonia megarhiza information
E-Flora BC: Claytonia megarhiza atlas page
CalPhotos: Claytonia megarhiza photos