Portulacaceae
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). This tiny prostrate weed is a close relative of the colorful Moss Roses we grow in gardens—the thick, fleshy red stems and succulent leaves show the relationship clearly. The little yellow flowers open only in the morning, and only in bright sunlight. Purslanes can grow almost anywhere they get a foothold, and can survive being pulled up and thrown away to root elsewhere. In the city they are very common crack-in-the-sidewalk weeds.
Claytonia caroliniana
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica). Among the earliest woodland flowers, Spring Beauties are abundant and cheerful when the rest of the woods is just waking up. Note the long, narrow leaves. Our other species of Claytonia, C. caroliniana (Carolina Spring Beauty), has similar flowers but broader spoon-shaped leaves. It is much rarer around here than the common C. virginica.