[Loosestrife and Starflowers: The Genus Lysimachia East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington] [Starflowers: The Genus Trientalis East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Broad-leaf Starflower, Pacific Starflower, Western Starflower

Lysimachia latifolia

Synonyms: Alsinanthemum europaeum, Alsinanthemum europaeum var. latifolium, Trientalis latifolia, Trientalis borealis, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, Trientalis europaea var. latifolia

Broad-leaf Starflower, Pacific Starflower, Western Starflower: Lysimachia latifolia (Synonyms: Alsinanthemum europaeum, Alsinanthemum europaeum var. latifolium, Trientalis latifolia, Trientalis borealis, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, Trientalis europaea var. latifolia)


Broad-leaf Starflower, Pacific Starflower, Western Starflower: Lysimachia latifolia (Synonyms: Alsinanthemum europaeum, Alsinanthemum europaeum var. latifolium, Trientalis latifolia, Trientalis borealis, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, Trientalis europaea var. latifolia)Photo at right of broad-leaf starflower from the Monte Carlo trailhead, Columbia River Gorge (WA)..........July 4, 1993.
Characteristics:

Broad-leaf starflower is a small, forest-dwelling perennial which reproduces via underground tubers which are ascending or upright. The stems are erect and 10-30 cm tall with several short bracts on the lower portion of the stem and a whorl of 4-8 larger leaves at the tip of the stem. These main leaves are short-petiolate, ovate-elliptic to obovate in shape and 3-10 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide. The tip of the leaf blade is pointed.

A single flower may be found at the top of a thread-like stalk, several centimeters above the whorl of leaves. The flowers are star-shaped, pink, rose, or pinkish-lavender with 5-7 petals. The flowers are 8-12 mm wide.


Habitat:

Broad-leaf starflower is a plant which may be found in woods or prairies.


Range:

Broad-leaf starflower may be found from southern British Columbia south along the western side of the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada and along the coast to San Francisco, CA. It may be found to the east to Alberta and northern Idaho.


Broad-leaf Starflower, Pacific Starflower, Western Starflower: Lysimachia latifolia (Synonyms: Alsinanthemum europaeum, Alsinanthemum europaeum var. latifolium, Trientalis latifolia, Trientalis borealis, Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia, Trientalis europaea var. latifolia)

Photo above of northern starflower from Saddle Mt. State Park (OR)...........June 15, 1996.

Paul Slichter