Claytonia

/kleɪˈtoʊniə/ noun

Definition

A genus of small plants with delicate flowers, also called spring beauty, commonly found in woodlands.

Etymology

Named by Carl Linnaeus after John Clayton, an 18th-century botanist and naturalist from Virginia, using the Latinized form '-ia' for the genus name.

Kelly Says

Claytonia flowers are among the first plants to bloom in spring, emerging before trees leaf out, and they're important early-season food for pollinators waking from winter.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.