Flowers of Primula hendersonii
Primula hendersonii (entry updated from Dodecatheon hendersonii in 2018) of the Primulaceae, or primrose family, is commonly known as Henderson’s shooting star or mosquito bill. It occurs in the western regions of North America, from Vancouver Island to California. It can grow at moderately high altitudes (of up to 2100 meters) in some California mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada.
Primula hendersonii has somewhat puzzled taxonomists, as it has a strong morphological resemblance to other taxa in the genus, including Primula clevelandii var. patula–and possible hybrids among taxa. The Flora of North America elaborates on these difficulties in its entry for Dodecatheon hendersonii with the last sentence beginning with “More study is needed”.
I can’t help but include this link to photographs by (deceased as of 2016) Dr. Steven Wolf, a former Professor of Botany in the Biology Department at California State University Stanislaus (CSUS) and Curator of the CSUS Herbarium: fantastic close-ups of Primula hendersonii, detailing the colours and intricate structure of the bee-pollinated flowers (you would think there’d be an uncommon pollination method with that structure!). Jim Conrad’s BackyardNature.net has a photograph of the entire plant, with its low-lying vegetative parts and long peduncle: Primula hendersonii.
Wonderful. Have tried to grow the Shooting stars here in Stockholm but they have been very shortlived probably due to not suitable growing place
I noticed that Claire did not discuss the suggested lumping of Dodecatheon into Primula (horrors!). I’ve read what James Reveal presented in Flora of NA, plus the Wikipedia entry regarding paraphyletic and monophyletic, and still don’t understand it all. An explanation here would be helpful.
These are in bloom now here in the Bay Area. I’m heading out for my first wildflower photo hike of the 2011 season on Saturday and should get some good photos.
Another spectacular entry – and beautiful photo!
“An explanation here would be helpful” – briefly, some species of Primula are more closely related to some species listed as Dodecatheon, than they are to other species of Primula.
So either one can merge Dodecatheon into Primula as one genus (the most widely suggested option), or else split Primula up into several genera (might be a better option!) so that the above situation no longer applies.
Stunning! It looks like the love child of aquilegia and cyclamen!
Sarah