| Montia | |
|---|---|
| Montia fontana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Montiaceae |
| Genus: | Montia L. |
| Species | |
|
about 12, see text |
|
Montia is a genus of plants in the purslane family, Montiaceae. Species in this genus are known generally as miner's lettuce or minerslettuce.
Montia perfoliata, the species for which the term miner's lettuce was coined, is distributed throughout the Mountain West of North America in moist soils and prefers areas which have been recently disturbed. The species got its name due to its use as a fresh salad green by miners in the 1849 Gold Rush in California.[1]
Some members formerly of this genus are now considered to belong in Claytonia. The genus is being reorganized by taxonomists.
Selected species: