Lysimachia latifolia

Lysimachia latifolia, sometimes called Trientalis latifolia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae.[1][2][3][4] It is known as starflower,[3][4][5] chickweed-wintergreen,[5] or Pacific starflower.[6]

Lysimachia latifolia
At Squak Mountain State Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Lysimachia
Species:
L. latifolia
Binomial name
Lysimachia latifolia
(Hook.) Cholewa
Synonyms[1]
  • Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia (Hook.) Hultén
  • Trientalis europaea var. latifolia (Hook.) Torr.
  • Trientalis europaea ssp. latifolia (Hook.) A.E.Murray
  • Trientalis latifolia Hook.

Description

It is a low-growing, creeping perennial[5][7] reaching (5 to 30 cm (2.0 to 11.8 in)).[8] The roots are tuberous,[5][7] creeping rhizomes.[7] The stems are erect,[7] 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high.[5] It has 5 to 7 whorled, lanceolate, entire leaves distributed levelly in a single group.[7]

The flowers are white[5][7] or pink[5] flowers are borne in April[5] or May.[5][7] Calyx (the collective term for sepals) is 5- to 9-parted and persistent. Corolla (the collective term for petals) is also 5- to 9-parted, rotate,[5][7] with a very short tube[7] and elliptic-lanceolate segments. Stamens occur in the same number as the corolla lobes (5-9)[5][7] and are positioned opposite them.[5] 1-3 peduncles, 1-flowered, filiform, and ebracteate.[7] The ovary is one-celled. The style (gynoecium) is filiform.[5]

Habitat

Occurs on moist, shaded[3][7] slopes in deep,[3] light[7] soil rich in organic matter,[3][7] particularly leaf mould.[7]

Distribution

Etymology

The former genus name Trientalis is derived from the Latin triens ('a third'), and is an allusion to the height of the plant, which is one third of a foot, or 4 in (10 cm) high.[5][10] Latifolia is derived from the Latin words latus ('broad or wide') and folia ('leaves') and means approximately 'broad-leaved'.[10]

The alternative name "Indian potato" refers to a small subterranean swelling at the stem's base, which is not listed as being edible by modern sources.[11]

References
  1. "Lysimachia latifolia (Hook.) Cholewa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  2. The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-26400203
  3. Howell, John Thomas. "Marin Flora: Manual of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Marin County, California", University of California, Ltd. Copyright 1949, 1970, 1985. ISBN 0520056213, pp 217
  4. Emery, Dara E. "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants", 6th edition (printed 2011). Copyright 1988 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. ISBN 0916436039
  5. Parsons, Mary Elizabeth "The Wild Flowers of California", illustrated by Margaret Warriner Buck. Published by Cunningham, Curtiss & Welch, San Francisco 1912. Copyright William Doxey 1897, copyright Mary Elizabeth Parsons 1902, 1906. (no ISBN for this edition)
  6. "When to expect the blooms?". National Park Service: Redwood. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. November 24, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. Chittenden, Fred J., Synge, Patrick M., editors. 1977. "The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening", edn. 2, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198691068. Volume 4, pp. 2145-2146
  8. "Lysimachia latifolia". Jepson eFlora. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  9. USDA Plants database Trientalis latifolia
  10. Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN 9780521685535 (paperback). pp 231, 387
  11. Whitney, Stephen (1985). Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. p. 586. ISBN 0-394-73127-1.
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