Dodecatheon dentatum

Dodecatheon dentatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, known by the common names white shooting star and toothed American cowslip.

Dodecatheon dentatum

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Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Primulaceae
Genus:
Dodecatheon
Species:
D. dentatum
Binomial name
Dodecatheon dentatum

It is native to areas of western North America, in Arizona, British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington (state).[1]

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.[2] 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.[3][4] Its bloom period is May to July.

It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers.[2] 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.[2]

Subspecies

This species is classified into several subspecies:[1][5]

  • Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. dentatum — white shootingstar, endemic to the Pacific Northwest.[6]
  • Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae — Ellis' shootingstar, endemic to Arizona & New Mexico.[7] Also known as Dodecatheon ellisiae.[8]
  • Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense — pink flowering shootingstar, endemic to Utah.[9] Also known as Dodecatheon utahense.[10]

Cultivation

Dodecatheon dentatum is cultivated as a perennial ornamental plant, used in traditional and native plant shade gardens.[2] It is of special value to native bumble bees.[2] The plants usually go dormant almost immediately after flowering.[2]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[11][12]

References
  1. USDA.gov: Dodecatheon dentatum
  2. NPIN: Dodecatheon dentatum
  3. Dodecatheon dentatum. Washington Burke Museum.
  4. Dodecatheon dentatum. Flora of North America.
  5. The Nature Conservancy.org: Dodecatheon dentatum
  6. USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. dentatum
  7. USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae (Ellis' shootingstar)
  8. Flora of North America.org: Dodecatheon ellisiae (Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae)
  9. USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense
  10. Flora of North America.org: Dodecatheon utahense (Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense)
  11. "Dodecatheon dentatum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  12. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 29. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
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