Lithophragma glabrum Nutt.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Saxifragaceae
Genus: Lithophragma
 
Species Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbiferum Rydb.
Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum (Rydb.) Jepson
Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum (Suksdorf) Boivin
Common Names: starflower
bulbous wood-land-star
rock-star
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: southern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southwestern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: southwestern Saskatchewan; Cypress Hills
Ecoregion: Cypress Upland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: moist ravine slopes
Associated Species: common yampah, graceful cinquefoil, white spruce
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Threatened
Nature Conservancy Status:
G4G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Starflower is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. It is regionally restricted to one small region of the province. Possible threats have been identified for this species.
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: 10 – 20 cm
Roots: rootstocks slender, bearing small bulbs
Stems: glandular, short-hairy
Leaves: basal and on the stem; basal leaves divided into threes to the base, divisions 5 – 15 mm long and deeply 3-lobed, mostly hairless; stem leaves few, similar to basal leaves, usually with small bulbs in the axils; stipules short, pinkish, fringed
Inflorescence: unbranched, short, 3 – 6-flowered, flowers often replaced by small bulbs
Flowers: hypanthium short-hairy, glandular; sepals 5, short; petals 5, 4 – 7 mm long, white or pinkish, 5-cleft; stamens 10, included; ovary more or less inferior, styles 3
Fruits: capsule 3-valved, many-seeded
 
SAXIFRAGACEAE KEY FOR GENERA FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Sepals 4; petals absent; stamens 2 – 8
Chrysosplenium
1 Sepals 5; petals present or absent; stamens 5 or 10
2
   
2 Stamens 5
3
2 Stamens 10
5
 
3 Petals absent
Heuchera
3 Petals present
4
 
4 Gland-tipped sterile stamens absent; flowers in branched clusters; leaves toothed
Heuchera
4 Stamens alternating with branched, gland-tipped sterile stamens; flowers solitary; leaves entire
Parnassia
 
5 Styles 3; plants bearing small bulbs
Lithophragma
5 Styles 2; plants not bearing bulbs
6
 
6 Petals divided or lobed
Mitella
6 Petals entire
Saxifraga