Botanists carried it abroad where under the name of winter-purslane it is used in France and England for greens or salad, while remaining practically unknown at home.

Boiled and seasoned as spinach it makes equally good greens.

But it is in salad that it stands pre-eminent.
Go to any canyon--I shall not reveal the name of my particular canyon--and locate a bed of miner's lettuce (Montia perfoliata).

Growing in rank beds beside a cold, clean stream, you will find these pulpy, exquisitely shaped, pungent round leaves from the center of which lifts a tiny head of misty white lace, sending up a palate-teasing, spicy perfume.

The crisp, pinkish stems snap in the fingers.