Miner’s Lettuce

Also winter purslane, claytonia, Cuban spinach or lettuce, Spanish lettuce

This adorable, delicious salad green does, indeed, show up toward the end of winter, as one of its names promises—in contrast to true purslane, a summer arrival. Cuban spinach and Spanish lettuce, alternative common names, designate once disputed places of origin. But if the birthplace remains debatable, there is now agreement that this plant is native to the Americas—even though it is more widely appreciated and cultivated in Europe.