Primula latiloba
| Primula latiloba | |
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| Species: | D. dentatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Dodecatheon dentatum | |
Dodecatheon dentatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, known by the common names white shooting star and toothed American cowslip.
It is native to areas of western North America, in Arizona, British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington (state). [1]
Description
Dodecatheon dentatum is an herbaceous perennial growing to 40–50 cm (16–20 in) in height.
This species has toothed (dentate) leaves, hence one of its common names. [2] The leaves have pointed oval blades up to 10 cm long by 6 cm wide with wavy or toothed edges. Each is borne on a long, winged petiole.
The inflorescence contains 1 to 12 flowers. It arises on a tall, erect flowering stalk. The flower corolla has five white lobes each 1 or 2 centimeters long. They are reflexed away from the flower's center, which contains one style surrounded by large reddish, purplish or black anthers containing pollen.[3][4] Its bloom period is May to July.
It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers. [2] In Utah, petals may be pink or pale violet; elsewhere petals are white or cream. Plants in Arizona and New Mexico have stamens with yellow filaments, in the Northwest filaments are dark maroon or black. [2]
Subspecies
This species is classified into several subspecies:[1][5]
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. dentatum — white shootingstar, endemic to the Pacific Northwest. [6]
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae — Ellis' shootingstar, endemic to Arizona & New Mexico. [7] Also known as Dodecatheon ellisiae. [8]
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense — pink flowering shootingstar, endemic to Utah. [9] Also known as Dodecatheon utahense. [10]
Cultivation
Dodecatheon dentatum is cultivated as a perennial ornamental plant, used in traditional and native plant shade gardens. [2] It is of special value to native Bumble bees. [2] The plants usually go dormant almost immediately after flowering. [2]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[11]
References
- ^ a b USDA.gov: Dodecatheon dentatum
- ^ a b c d e f NPIN: Dodecatheon dentatum
- ^ Dodecatheon dentatum. Washington Burke Museum.
- ^ Dodecatheon dentatum. Flora of North America.
- ^ The Nature Conservancy.org: Dodecatheon dentatum
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. dentatum
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae (Ellis' shootingstar)
- ^ Flora of North America.org: Dodecatheon ellisiae (Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae)
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense
- ^ Flora of North America.org: Dodecatheon utahense (Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense)
- ^ "Dodecatheon dentatum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
External links
- NatureServe apparently secure species
- Primulaceae
- Flora of Arizona
- Flora of British Columbia
- Flora of Idaho
- Flora of New Mexico
- Flora of Oregon
- Flora of Utah
- Flora of Washington (state)
- Plants described in 1838
- Taxa named by William Jackson Hooker
- Least concern flora of the United States
- Garden plants of North America