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Common Name: Miner's Lettuce

General Information

Claytonia perfoliata is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.15 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to California and Mexico. Naturalized in Britain.

Habitat

Disturbed and waste ground, moist banks and slopes, often in partial shade, especially on light soils[, ]. Also found on rather dry sandy soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a moist peaty soil[, ]. It is often found growing wild on sandy soils[]. An easily grown plant, it can succeed on very poor and dry soils[, ]. Plants grow well the dappled shade of trees, producing a better quality crop in such a situation[, , ]. Although only an annual[], it usually self-sows when well sited.
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c.
Miner's lettuce is occasionally cultivated as a salad plant[, ]. It's main value is as a reliable producer of leaves in the winter, though it can provide leaves all year round[, , ]. It can be grown as a cut and come again crop[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. A fairly bland flavour with a mucilaginous texture, it is quite nice in a salad[, ]. The young leaves are best[], older leaves can turn bitter especially in the summer and if the plant is growing in a hot dry position[]. Although individual leaves are fairly small, they are produced in abundance and are easily picked[].
Stalks and flowers - raw[]. A nice addition to the salad bowl[].
Bulb - raw[, , ]. Although very small and labour-intensive to harvest, the boiled and peeled root has the flavour of chestnuts[]. Another report says that the plant has a fibrous root system[] so this report seems to be erroneous[].

Medicinal

The leaves are gently laxative[]. Apart from its value as a nourishing vegetable that is rich in vitamin C, it can also be taken as an invigorating spring tonic and an effective diuretic[].
A poultice of the mashed plants has been applied to rheumatic joints[].

Other Uses

Although only an annual, this species makes an excellent ground cover in a cool acid soil under trees. In such a position it usually self-sows freely[] and grows all year round[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates rapidly.