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: Perideridia gairdneri, Picea glauca, Potentilla gracilis
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Threatened
Nature Conservancy Status:
G4G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Lithophragma glabrum 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 bulblets
Stems: glandular- puberulent
Leaves: basal and cauline; basal leaves ternately divided to the base, divisions 5 – 15 mm long and deeply 3-lobed, mostly glabrous; cauline leaves few, similar to basal leaves, usually with bulblets in the axils; stipules short, pinkish, fimbriate
Inflorescence: raceme short, 3 – 6-flowered, flowers often replaced by bulblets
Flowers: hypanthium puberulent, 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; corolla absent; stamens 2 – 8
Chrysosplenium
1 Sepals 5; corolla present or absent; stamens 5 or 10
2
   
2 Stamens 5
3
2 Stamens 10
5
 
3 Corolla absent
Heuchera
3 Corolla present
4
 
4 Gland-tipped staminodes absent; flowers in panicles; leaves toothed
Heuchera
4 Stamens alternating with branched, gland-tipped staminodes; flowers solitary; leaves entire
Parnassia
 
5 Styles 3; plants bearing bulblets
Lithophragma
5 Styles 2; plants not bearing bulblets
 
6 Petals divided or lobed
Mitella
6 Petals entire
Saxifraga