Kingdom Plantae Family Primulaceae Scientific name Dodecatheon alpinum Rank Species | Order Ericales Genus Dodecatheon Higher classification Dodecatheon | |
 | ||
Similar Dodecatheon, Dodecatheon conjugens, Dodecatheon dentatum, Primulaceae, Dodecatheon pulchellum | ||
Dodecatheon alpinum is a perennial plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae, known by the common name alpine shooting star.
This wildflower is native to the Western United States, in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. The plant grows in wet areas in the mountains, such as in the Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges.
Description
Dodecatheon alpinum is partially aquatic, sometimes growing along the edges of bogs and in shallow, slow rivulets. This is a thick-rooted perennial with narrow, straight leaves around the base.
It erects slim, tall stems which are dark in color and are topped with inflorescences of one or more showy flowers. Each flower nods with its mouth pointed to the ground when new, and becomes more erect with age. It has four reflexed sepals in shades of bright pink or lavender which lie back against the body of the flower. These may have bases of white or yellow which rim the corolla. From the corolla mouth protrude large black anthers and a thready stigma.
It flowers from June to August.