Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica)

The Virginia springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) features small underground tubers that are quite tasty, resembling the flavor of chestnuts. Despite their deliciousness, early American colonists seldom ate them unless absolutely necessary. This was due to the significant effort needed to gather a sufficient quantity for a meal, which made them an impractical food source compared to other more easily harvested options. Notably, the genus name honors John Clayton, a key figure in botanical studies.