''Primula latiloba'',
synonyms
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
''Dodecatheon dentatum'' and ''Dodecatheon latilobum'',
[ 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, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.][
]
Description
''Primula latiloba'' is an herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
perennial growing to in height.
This species has toothed (dentate) leaves, hence one of its common names.[NPIN: ''Dodecatheon dentatum'']
/ref> 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
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filam ...
containing pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
.[''Dodecatheon dentatum''.]
Washington Burke Museum.[''Dodecatheon dentatum''.]
Flora of North America. Its bloom period is May to July.
The petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s are white or cream. It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers.[
]
Taxonomy
The species was first described as ''Dodecatheon dentatum'' by William Jackson Hooker
Sir William Jackson Hooker (6 July 178512 August 1865) was an English botanist and botanical illustrator, who became the first director of Kew when in 1841 it was recommended to be placed under state ownership as a botanic garden. At Kew he ...
in 1838.Asa Gray
Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His ''Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually excl ...
described ''Dodecatheon meadia'' var. ''latilobum''. In 1905, this taxon was raised to a full species, ''Dodecatheon latilobum''.synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
of ''Dodecatheon dentatum''. In 2007, when the genus ''Dodecatheon'' was reduced to a section of ''Primula'', it was necessary to transfer the species to ''Primula''. However, the name ''Primula dentata'' had already been published (in 1819) for a different species, so the next oldest epithet was used and ''Dodecatheon dentatum'' became ''Primula latiloba''.
Subspecies
Some subspecies were defined within ''Dodecatheon dentatum'', but are now regarded as separate species.
*''Dodecatheon dentatum'' subsp. ''ellisiae'' is a synonym of '' Primula standleyana''.[
]
Cultivation
''Primula latiloba'' is cultivated as a perennial ornamental plant, used in traditional and native plant shade gardens.[ It is of special value to native bumble bees.][ The plants usually go dormant almost immediately after flowering.][
]
References
External links
USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum (white shootingstar)Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network-NPIN: ''Dodecatheon dentatum'' (Dwarf shootingstar, White shootingstar)
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q50346448, from2=Q110558009, from3=Q3033653
Primulaceae
Flora of British Columbia
Flora of Idaho
Flora of Oregon
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