Redmaids
Redmaids
Calandrinia ciliata var.
menziesii
(Photo by Tim Reiley)
A few years back, when I was just get interested in
wildflowers, I noticed some pretty little flowers growing
amongst the mustard by the Harry Road guard-house. I got off my bike
for a better look, but couldn't figure out what they were.
On my way back from my lunchtime ride, I mentioned them to the
guard--remember them? She smiled and said, "Oh, those are
Redmaids, aren't they nice!" You might buzz and try holding a bunch
up to the camera these days. Someone might even tell you what they
are. But you won't get that smile. Redmaids are a sure sign of
Spring, and they open only in the sun. Smiles come easily when you
see them.
Redmaids are in the Purslane family.
They go by Calandrinia ciliata var.
menziesii. (Calandrinia and Menzies were early botanists,
ciliata means fringed, referreing to
the hairs on the sepals). They
bloom from Feb. through April.
Really, they should be
called "Unusual-Shade-of-Rose-Purple Maids." They aren't
exactly red. They also reflect a lot of ultraviolet, making them
difficult to photograph accurately.
As I mentioned, you need to catch them in full
sun to see them open. They can grow in large patches, coloring
a whole hillside or orchard. But you may not even see them
on a cloudy day, as they are small and close to the ground.
Like most (all?) Purslanes, they are edible. The leaves are said
to be excellent in salads.
