Primula sect. Dodecatheon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Primula sect. Dodecatheon
Primula pauciflora (also known as Dodecatheon pulchellum) growing in Fidalgo Island, Washington.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Primulaceae
Subfamily:	Primuloideae
Genus:	Primula
Section:	Primula sect. Dodecatheon (L.) A.R.Mast & Reveal
Species
See text

The plants known as Primula sect. Dodecatheon are a special group of herbaceous flowering plants. They belong to the family called Primulaceae. These plants were once known by a different name, Dodecatheon.

You might know them by their fun common names. People call them shooting star plants, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, or sailor caps. They get these names because of their unique flower shape!

These plants usually have a cluster of leaves at their base. From this base, tall stems grow upwards. At the top of these stems, you'll find beautiful, nodding flowers. Most of these plants grow in North America and parts of northeastern Siberia. Many people enjoy growing a few species in their gardens because of their showy and unusual flowers.

Shooting star flowers have a special way of being pollinated. Their stamens (the parts that hold pollen) stick out, and their sepals (leaf-like parts under the petals) bend backward. Bees help pollinate these flowers. They grab onto the petals and vibrate their wings. This buzzing motion shakes the flower, releasing pollen from the anthers. This process is called buzz pollination.

Discovering Shooting Star Plants

Primula sect. Dodecatheon is a fascinating group of plants. The term "section" in botany means it's a smaller division within a larger group of plants, called a genus. These plants are herbaceous, meaning they don't have woody stems like trees or shrubs. Their unique flowers and how they are pollinated make them stand out in the plant world.

How Scientists Classify These Plants

A beautiful Primula jeffreyi flower, also known as Sierra shootingstar, growing in Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, Washington.

Scientists work hard to name and organize all living things. This helps us understand how different species are related.

A Name Change for Dodecatheon

A famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus first described the genus Dodecatheon in 1753. He wrote about it in his important book, Species Plantarum. At that time, Dodecatheon was special because of its buzz-pollinated flowers. These flowers have petals that bend back and parts that stick out, like styles and anthers.

Over time, scientists learned more about plants. They used new tools, like molecular studies, to look at the DNA of plants. They also studied their shapes and cells. These studies showed that Dodecatheon was very closely related to a group within the Primula genus. If Dodecatheon stayed a separate genus, then Primula wouldn't be a "monophyletic" group. This means Primula wouldn't include all its descendants from a common ancestor.

To make the classification more accurate, in 2007, scientists Austin R. Mast and James L. Reveal made a change. They decided to move all Dodecatheon species into the Primula genus. Now, these plants are known as Primula sect. Dodecatheon. This change helps show their true family connections.

Types of Shooting Star Plants

There are 17 different species of shooting star plants that are now part of the Primula genus. Each one has its own unique features and places where it grows.

Exploring the Species

Here is a table showing some of the different shooting star species:

Image	Accepted Name (Primula)	Old Name (Dodecatheon)	Common Name	Where it Grows
	Primula austrofrigida	Dodecatheon austrofrigidum	Frigid shootingstar	Coast ranges of Oregon and Washington
	Primula clevelandii	Dodecatheon clevelandii	Padre's shootingstar	California
	Primula conjugens	Dodecatheon conjugens	Bonneville shootingstar	Wyoming to Oregon
	Primula fassettii	Dodecatheon amethystinum	Jewelled shootingstar	Upper Midwest US, Pennsylvania
	Primula fragrans	Dodecatheon redolens	Scented shootingstar	California, Nevada and Utah
	Primula frenchii	Dodecatheon frenchii	French's shootingstar	Southeastern US
	Primula frigida	Dodecatheon frigidum	Western arctic shootingstar	Alaska, NW Canada, Russia
	Primula hendersonii	Dodecatheon hendersonii	Broad-leaved shootingstar	California to Idaho
	Primula jeffreyi	Dodecatheon jeffreyi	Sierra shootingstar	California
	Primula latiloba	Dodecatheon dentatum, Dodecatheon latilobum	White shootingstar	Washington to Idaho
	Primula meadia	Dodecatheon meadia	Mead's shootingstar	Eastern US
	Primula pauciflora	Dodecatheon pauciflorum, Dodecatheon pulchellum	Pretty shooting star, few-flowered shooting star	From Subarctic America to Mexico
	Primula poetica	Dodecatheon poeticum	Poet's shootingstar	Washington, Oregon
	Primula standleyana	Dodecatheon ellisiae	Ellis' shootingstar	Arizona, New Mexico, W Mexico
	Primula subalpina	Dodecatheon subalpinum	Sierran shootingstar	California
	Primula tetrandra	Dodecatheon tetrandum, Dodecatheon alpinum	Alpine shootingstar	California
	Primula utahensis	Dodecatheon utahense	Wasatch shootingstar	Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Growing and Caring for Shooting Stars

Many people enjoy planting shooting star species in their gardens. These plants can add a unique touch with their beautiful flowers.

Planting Shooting Stars in Your Garden

If you want to grow these plants, they need specific care. They like soil that drains well. They also prefer dry soils during summer and winter. This is when the plants are "dormant," meaning they are resting and not actively growing. In spring, when they are growing, they like moist soil. Plants grown in drier soils tend to be smaller.

If you grow shooting stars from seeds, it can take three or more years for them to bloom. This is because they go dormant in the summer. You can sometimes speed up their growth. Giving them light fertilizer and keeping them moist can help them grow larger. This might make them bloom a year or two sooner. Another trick is to put dormant plants in a cool place in late spring. After a few weeks, move them to a shady spot in midsummer. This can encourage new growth.

You can also grow new plants by dividing existing ones in the winter. This is a way to make more plants from one healthy plant.

Edible Parts of the Plant

Some types of shooting star plants found in the Pacific Northwest region are edible. However, it's always important to be sure about a plant's identity before trying to eat it.