Dodecatheon dentatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dodecatheon dentatum |
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Dodecatheon
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D. dentatum
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| Dodecatheon dentatum |
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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, Washington (state), and Chihuahua in Mexico.
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. 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. Its bloom period is May to July.
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.
Subspecies
This species is classified into several subspecies:
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. dentatum — white shootingstar, native to the Pacific Northwest.
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae — Ellis' shootingstar, native to Arizona, New Mexico and Chihuahua in Mexico. Also known as D. ellisiae.
- Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense — pink flowering shootingstar, endemic to Utah. Also known as D. utahense.
Cultivation
Dodecatheon dentatum 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.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
