Red Maids are a member of the purslane family. The bright red-pink flowers with five petals and numerous stamens are distinctive (unlike any others). The plants are sprawling.
Scientific name: Calandrinia ciliata
Family: Portulacaceae (purslane)
Habitat: Grasslands (disturbed)
Size: Plant with stems up to 1 foot; flower 8 to 30 mm across
Fun Facts:
Red Maids flowers are only open when the sun is shining. They are also known as the “poor man’s weather vane.”
Life Cycle:
Red Maids is an annual plant, so it dies off every year. It germinates as soon as the rains begin in the fall. It can bloom as early as February or March and is generally in seed by the time the other vernal pool plants begin to bloom.
Ecology:
Red Maids occur in grasslands and fields. They are particularly plentiful in disturbed areas where they can be the dominant species. Red Maids were used as a pot herb by early settlers and their seeds are a favored food of doves.
Investigate:
Red Maids are native, but often grow in disturbed areas. Natural disturbances can be caused by burrowing rodents or digging predators. Can you find Red Maids growing on soil which was disturbed by animals?
