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Dodecatheon dentatum
Dodecatheon dentatum Hook.
Dwarf Shootingstar, White Shootingstar
Primulaceae (Primrose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: DODE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
A delicate, dwarf shooting stars, the flowering stem rising only 6 in. above the rosette of crinkled, toothed, basal leaves. Open umbels of white flowers top the flowering stem. Small, dart-like flowers pointing in all directions from ends of branches of an umbel on a stalk growing from a basal rosette of leaves. The petals are abruptly reflexed back over the short floral tube to resemble a jet-propelled missle with a nose-cone of showy, yellow stamens. In addition, there is a showy, reddish-purple spot at the base of each petal.
This species has toothed (dentate) leaves, hence one of its common names. It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers. 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.
From the Image Gallery
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Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AZ , ID , NM , OR , UT , WANative Distribution: E. side of the Cascades from s. B.C. to n. OR, e. to c. ID & n. UT
Native Habitat: Stream banks; shaded, moist slopes
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Shooting stars go dormant almost immediately after flowering.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Bumble BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagate by division or seed.Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FACW |
Additional resources
USDA: Find Dodecatheon dentatum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Dodecatheon dentatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dodecatheon dentatum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2007-01-01Research By: TWC Staff