Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 4,
Names
Montia fontana Linnaeus [family PORTULACACEAE], Sp. Pl., 1: 87. 1753
Claytonia hallii A. Gray [family PORTULACACEAE]
Montia clara Ö. Nilsson [family PORTULACACEAE]
Montia funstonii Rydberg [family PORTULACACEAE]
Montia hallii (A. Gray) Greene [family PORTULACACEAE]
Montia minor C. C. Gmelin [family PORTULACACEAE]
Discussion
Montia fontana displays a multitude of forms varying in stature, leaf shape, and seed size. Segregate species, varieties, and subspecies have been named. Based on my study of worldwide collections of the species, much variation in M. fontana is attributable to phenotypic differentiation of ramets produced by local environmental conditions and unrelated to genetic variation. Until macromolecular or other studies shed light on the variation in M. fontana, it seems pointless to recognize infraspecific taxa or segregate species.