Boneville shootimg star

Description

Dodecatheon conjugens,now reclassified as Primula conjugens,is a species of flowering perennial plant in the primrose family, known by the common name Bonneville shooting star. The perennial wildflower is native to western North America from northeastern California, the Great Basin, and Pacific Northwest; east to Wyoming and Montana (U.S.) and across western Canada to Saskatchewan. It grows in seasonally wet areas of habitats including: sagebrush steppe and sagebrush scrub, yellow pine forest, wetland-riparian zones, and moist slopes and meadows of mountains. It is found at elevations of 200–1,900 metres (660–6,230 ft). Dodecatheon conjugens−Primula conjugens is a thick-rooted perennial with narrow oval-shaped leaves around the base. It erects slim, tall stems which are dark in color and are topped with inflorescences of one to seven showy flowers. The bloom period is April to July. Each flower nods with its mouth pointed to the ground when new, and becomes more erect with age. It has five reflexed sepals in shades of magenta (or, rarely, white) which lie back against the body of the flower. At the base of the sepals is a ring of bright yellow. From the corolla mouth protrude large dark red or black anthers surrounding a threadlike pink stigma. The fruit is circumscissile. The plant is of special value to native bumble bee species. Historically, it was consumed by Native Americans, and may still suffice to prevent starvation. mula sect. Dodecatheon is a section of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. Primula species in this section were formerly considered in a separate genus, Dodecatheon. The species have basal clumps of leaves and nodding flowers that are produced at the top of tall stems rising from where the leaves join the crown. The genus is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets,and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers.