Wisconsin Wildflowers: Northern Starflower
Trientalis Borealis - Northern Starflower
"And lo, upon the forest floor a myriad of stars; seven perfect white petals, deeply lobed, and sharply pointed, rising upon a slender stalk, hovering above a whorl of green, 4 to 7 lanceolate leaves arrayed around a single stem scant inches from the ground." This is the American Starflower: Trientalis borealis ssp. borealis.
Trientalis borealis ssp. borealis - American Starflower
The Natural Resources Conservation Service lists two subspecies of trientalis borealis, both are commonly referred to as the Northern Starflower. Since the species name, borealis, literally means "of the North," the shared, common name, Northern Starflower is appropriate. When referring to either of the two listed subspecies, regional nomenclature should be considered. The Western variety is listed as trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia or Broadleaf Starflower [ ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number: 524770 ] while the Eastern variety, native to Wisconsin, is identified as trientalis borealis ssp. borealis [ ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number 524769 ] or American Starlower.
It is impossible to walk through many eastern boreal forests without noticing the distinctive shape and shear abundance of the American Starflower, Trientalis borealis ssp. borealis. Previously recognized as Trientalis americana, hence the common name American Starflower, this stunning little forb is now acknowledged officially as Trientalis borealis ssp. (supspecies) borealis.
Trientalis, the genus name, literally means "composed of one third" or "one third of a foot" and corresponds to the average height of the Starflower, while "borealis" implies "of the north," which also provides the basis for the American Starflower's other common name: Northern Starflower. The word "northern" is relative since the "Northern Starflower" ranges throughout the Midwest, even reaching into "southern" realms as the USDA distribution map for this species illustrates.
Primrose family: [ ITIS Primulaceae Taxonomic Serial No.: 23929 ] a dicotyledonous family of the order Primulales with a regular flower; widely distributed in the northern hemisphere.
The Starflower: A perennial herb, the Starflower is from 3-25 cm tall (average height: 4 inches). The 4-7 leaves are lance shaped, slender and noticeably veined. Individual leaves are 3-11 cm long, and arranged in a whorl at the tip of the stem. The stems typically have several tiny, alternate, leaves. Most plants will have a single flower though there may be as many as three, each on a long, slender stalk 2-5 cm long, that rises well above the whorl of leaves. The corolla is white, deeply 7-lobed, the lobes slenderly pointed, 8-14 mm long, and spreading like a 7-pointed star. The fruit is a round, berry-like capsule, 6-8 mm in diameter, splitting by five valves and having many tiny seeds. Flowering period : May to June; fruiting period: June to July.
Wildflowers and waterfalls: nature's own designs graphics tutorials
Water falls are beautiful. Not far north of Land O' Lakes, just outside of Paulding Michigan, is one the Upper Peninsula's spectacular waterfalls, Bond Falls. It is also the inspiration for IntimatExpression's wonderful and easy to follow, Janim Lake Applet Tutorial - Enjoy!
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