Primula latiloba

Primula latiloba 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.[3] 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.[4][5] Its bloom period is May to July.

The petals are white or cream. It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers.[3]

The species was first described as Dodecatheon dentatum by William Jackson Hooker in 1838.[6] In 1876, Asa Gray described Dodecatheon meadia var. latilobum. In 1905, this taxon was raised to a full species, Dodecatheon latilobum.[7] Dodecatheon latilobum is now regarded as a synonym of Dodecatheon dentatum. In 2007, when the genus Dodecatheon was reduced to a section of Primula, it was necessary to transfer the species to Primula. However, the name Primula dentata had already been published (in 1819) for a different species, so the next oldest epithet was used and Dodecatheon dentatum became Primula latiloba.[8]

Primula latiloba is cultivated as a perennial ornamental plant, used in traditional and native plant shade gardens.[3] It is of special value to native bumble bees.[3] The plants usually go dormant almost immediately after flowering.[3]

• USDA Plants Profile for Dodecatheon dentatum (white shootingstar)
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network-NPIN: Dodecatheon dentatum (Dwarf shootingstar, White shootingstar)