Spring Beauty is the name of a group of flowers of the Claytonia genus. The flower pictured here is a Claytonia Lanceolata, a short, slender, hairless, perennials in the Portulacaceae or Purslane family. Other names include Lanceleaf Spring Beauty and Western Spring Beauty. Spring Beauty can be found here in South central Alaska growing in dry to moist areas, especially near water. The root of this plant was used by native cultures as food and animal fodder. This picture of the Spring Beauty was taken near Little Susitna River in Hatcher Pass.