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Dicentra uniflora

Dicentra uniflora Kellogg

Longhorn Steer's-head

Fumariaceae (Fumitory Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: DIUN

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A tiny plant with leaves and flower stalks growing separately, each attached to the root cluster deep beneath the surface. Each flower stalk ends in 1 pink or white bilateral flower resembling a steer�s skull with horns.

Though common, these low plants bloom early and are usually obscured by the surrounding sagebrush.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Northern California to Washington; east to Idaho, western Wyoming, and northern Utah.
Native Habitat: Open, well-drained ground, commonly among sagebrush in foothills to open woods at high elevations in mountains.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Clodius Parnassian
(Parnassius clodius)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Dicentra uniflora in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Dicentra uniflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dicentra uniflora

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-04
Research By: TWC Staff

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