Primula jeffreyi

Primula jeffreyi
In Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Primulaceae
Genus:	Primula
Section:	Primula sect. Dodecatheon
Species:	P. jeffreyi
Binomial name
Primula jeffreyi (Van Houtte) A.R.Mast & Reveal
Synonyms
Dodecatheon crenatum Greene Dodecatheon dispar A.Nelson Dodecatheon exilifolium J.F.Macbr. & Payson Dodecatheon glandulosum Eastw. Dodecatheon jeffreyanum K.Koch Dodecatheon jeffreyi Van Houtte Dodecatheon jeffreyi var. odoratum Eastw. Dodecatheon jeffreyi subsp. pygmaeum (H.M.Hall) H.J.Thomps. Dodecatheon jeffreyi var. typica R.Knuth Dodecatheon jeffreyi var. vivaparum (Greene) Abrams Dodecatheon meadia var. jeffreyi (Van Houtte) K.Brandegee Dodecatheon meadia var. lancifolium A.Gray Dodecatheon viviparum Greene Meadia jeffreyi (Van Houtte) Kuntze

Primula jeffreyi, synonym Dodecatheon jeffreyi, is a North American species of flowering plant in the primrose family known by the common names Sierra shooting star, Jeffrey's shooting star, and tall mountain shooting star.

Description

It is a thick-rooted perennial with long, slightly wrinkled leaves around the base. It erects slim, tall, hairy stems which are dark in color and are topped with inflorescences of 3 to 18 showy flowers. Each flower nods, with its pointed center aimed at the ground when fresh, and becomes more erect with age. It has four or five reflexed sepals in shades of pink, lavender, or white which lie back against the body of the flower. Each sepal base has a blotch of bright yellow. From the corolla mouth protrude large dark anthers surrounding a threadlike stigma.

Etymology

The specific epithet jeffreyi is in honor of botanist John Jeffrey.

Distribution and habitat

This wildflower is native to western North America from California to Alaska to Montana, where it grows in mountain meadows and streambanks.

In culture

The flowers of this species were considered good luck by the Nlaka'pamux people, who used them as amulets and love charms.

External links

• Media related to Primula jeffreyi at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Primula jeffreyi at Wikispecies
• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Ethnobotany
• Photo gallery