Species Spotlight: Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
As you might guess from the name, Spring Beauties are a clear sign that spring has arrived in Illinois forests. They occurring in every county of the state. Habitats include deciduous woodlands, savannas, and bluffs, making TNI an excellent place to spot this wildflower. When Spring Beauty is absent from woodlands, it may be an indication that the site was degraded by plows or bulldozers in the past. The Spring Beauty is a perennial wildflower, about 3-6" tall. The stem is light green and the petals of the flower are white with fine pink stripes with a floral scent. The flowers open up on warm sunny days, and close during cloudy weather or at night. The Spring Beauty is pollinated by bees and flies, and less commonly by butterflies. The corms (an underground store of energy for the plant, similar to a tuber) of Spring Beauty are dug up and eaten by some small rodents, including mice and chipmunks.
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