''Primula hendersonii'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Primulaceae,

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to western North America, from California north to southern British Columbia and Idaho. Common names include broad-leaved shooting star, Henderson's shooting star, mosquito bills, and sailor caps.

Description

''P. hendersonii'' is summer deciduous, dying back to the ground after the rains cease. It has basal clumps of leaves, 2–16 cm, with nodding flowers 6–25 mm long on stems 10–30 cm tall. The flowers are magenta to deep lavender to white, with the stamens thrust out and the

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s bent back. It is highly variable and hybridizes with '' Primula clevelandii'', from which it can be distinguished by its reddish or purplish stem.

Distribution and habitat

In California, it occurs in the northwest (except the north coast), the Cascade Range, the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, the north Inner South Coast Ranges, and the San Bernardino Mountains. It is generally found in open woodlands, from sea level in British Columbia, up to altitude in California.

Cultivation

It needs good drainage, and needs a dry summer period. Plants germinated from seed may take 3–5 years to produce flowers. For some plants, with frequent light fertilization and moisture, dormancy may be delayed, and flowering time may be decreased to 1–2 years. Another technique to speed flowering is to place them in a cooler after dormancy, then bring them to a shadehouse in midsummer. It can be propagated by division in winter. It prefers shade when inland.

Uses

The leaves and roots can be eaten when roasted or boiled, but are reported to be poisonous when eaten raw.

References

Notes

Jepson Flora Project: ''Dodecatheon hendersonii''Plants of British Columbia: ''Dodecatheon hendersonii''
*
ITIS 23962
*Cullina, William, and Cullina, Bill (2000) ''The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada'', Houghton Mifflin Company, .

*"Wildflowers of Henry W. Coe State Park" brochure, Larry Ulrich, 2002 hendersonii Flora of California Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Flora of the Western United States Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of British Columbia Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Primulaceae-stub