Primula latiloba

Primula latiloba, synonyms Dodecatheon dentatum and Dodecatheon latilobum,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, known by the common names white shooting star and toothed American cowslip.

Primula latiloba

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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Primula
Section: Primula sect. Dodecatheon
Species:
P. latiloba
Binomial name
Primula latiloba
(A.Gray) A.R.Mast & Reveal
Synonyms[1]
  • Dodecatheon dentatum Hook.
  • Dodecatheon frigidum var. dentatum (Hook.) A.Gray
  • Dodecatheon latilobum (A.Gray) Elmer ex R.Knuth
  • Dodecatheon meadia var. latilobum A.Gray
  • Meadia dentata (Hook.) Raf.

It is native to areas of western North America, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.[1]

Description

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.[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.

The petals are white or cream. It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers.[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first described as Dodecatheon dentatum by William Jackson Hooker in 1838.[5] In 1876, Asa Gray described Dodecatheon meadia var. latilobum. In 1905, this taxon was raised to a full species, Dodecatheon latilobum.[6] 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.[7]

Subspecies

Some subspecies were defined within Dodecatheon dentatum, but are now regarded as separate species.

No subspecies remain in Primula latiloba.[1]

Cultivation

Primula latiloba 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.[10][11]

References
  1. "Primula latiloba (A.Gray) A.R.Mast & Reveal". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  2. NPIN: Dodecatheon dentatum
  3. Dodecatheon dentatum. Washington Burke Museum.
  4. Dodecatheon dentatum. Flora of North America.
  5. "Dodecatheon dentatum Hook." The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  6. "Dodecatheon latilobum (A.Gray) Elmer ex R.Knuth". The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  7. Mast, Austin R. & Reveal, James L. (2007), "Transfer of Dodecatheon to Primula (Primulaceae)", Brittonia, 59: 79–82, retrieved 2022-04-14
  8. "Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. ellisiae (Standl.) H.J.Thomps." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  9. "Dodecatheon dentatum subsp. utahense (N.H.Holmgren) Kartesz". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  10. "Dodecatheon dentatum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 29. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
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