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| Family | Primrose (Primulaceae) | Height | 3-12" |
| Color | Pink/Violet/Purple occasionally white | Flowers | 1 to 16 flowers at the top of the stalk. 5 reflexed petals up to 1" long. Yellow and/or white band at the center of the flower. |
| Blooms | March - April | Leaves | Several oblanceolate leaves at the base of a leafless stalk. |
| Habitat | Grassy slopes | ||
Shooting stars are one of the earliest spring flowers and can sometimes be seen in snow. Also sometimes called Mosquito Bills or Prairie Pointers. Sometimes forms large impressive masses of purple in grassy areas. There are several species of Shooting stars, varying in the placement of the yellow/white markings and/or petal or stamen color. (Dodecatheon henderosonii, Dodecatheon clevelandii, Dodecatheon meadia) The Yuki ate the leaves and roots after roasting them in ashes. Flowers were used by the Pomo as ornaments for dances and hung on baby baskets as a sleep aid.[1] |
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add image to lightboxReferences
Beidleman, Linda H., and Eugene N. Kozloff. Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region: Mendocino to Monterey. Berekeley, CA: University of California, 2003.
Mount Diablo Wildflowers. Walnut Creek, CA: Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association, 2005.
Munz, Philip A. Introduction to California Spring Wildflowers of the Foothills, Valleys, and Coast. Eds. Dianne Lake and Phyllis M. Faber. Berekeley, CA: University of California, 2004.
[1] URL: http://www.nps.gov/archive/prsf/nathist1/wildflowers/pinks_to_reds/shooting_star.htm