[Prairie Stars & Woodland Stars: The Genus Lithophragma East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star

Lithophragma glabrum

Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Smooth prairiestars blooming enmasse on vernally moist slopes on a small outcrop directly above the Esau Canyon Corral on the east bank of the John Day River, Cottonwood Canyon State Park..........February 20, 2016.

Characteristics:

The USDA PLANTS Database currently has the species name spelled Lithophrgma glabrum. In addition, it now has bulblet prairie star grouped as a part of this species.

Smooth prairie star is an attractive perennial with stems arising 5-25 cm from a cluster of small basal leaves. The stems and inflorescence are often purple-tinged in color, and the herbage is sparsely to thickly glandular-hairy throughout. The basal leaves are cleft to the base into 5 cuneate segments which are individually lobed. The basal leaves are smooth-surfaced to very lightly haired. With petioles, the basal leaves are from 1-2.5 cm long with blades from 1-2 cm wide. The 2-5 stem leaves are similar to the basal leaves, but reduced in size. They may bear several small reddish-purple bulblets within their axils.

The inflorescence is usually a corymb or cluster of 2-5 flowers grouped closely near the tip of the stem (See photo of unopened flowers at right.). The flowers bear 5 white to pinkish-tinged petals, the blades cuneate-obovate, usually less than 8 mm long. The petals are 3-5 cleft, with each division further divided, often deeply, giving the petals a tattered look (See the photo atop of this page.). The calyx is cup-like, or broadly rounded at the base, and from 2.5-3.5 mm long in flower.

Smooth prairie star is an interesting perennial wildflower for the spring rock garden or prairie garden. It looks good amongst basalt rock outcrops as well as bunchgrasses. It tends to bloom about 2-3 weeks earlier than small-flowered prairie star.


Habitat:

Smooth prairie star may be found on open, grassy and sagebrush slopes and in open ponderosa pine and oak woodlands.


Range:

Smooth prairie star may be found from Chelan and Kittitas Counties, Washington south along the eastern side of the Cascades to the Columbia River. Gorge, and hence south to south-central Oregon. It may be found eastward to northern Idaho, northwestern Montana, southeastern Washington, and northeastern Oregon.


Close-up sideview of the inflorescence of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Close-up the flower of the inflorescence of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Basal leaves of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Smooth prairie star as seen commencing to bloom on rock outcrops directly north of the north loop road at Jackman Park, Steens Mountain of Harney County, Oregon.............June 2, 2012.

Inflorescence of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Flower of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Basal leaf of Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Smooth prairie star as seen at Summit Prairie, Malheur National Forest...........May 28, 2014.

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra) - Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Smooth prairie stars as seen at left on steep slopes several hundred meters uphill to the west of the Cottonwood Canyon State Park campground..........February 22, 2015. The photo at right shows smooth prairie stars blooming on slopes above the Hard Stone Trail along the west bank of the John Day River, Cottonwood Canyon State Park........March 19, 2017.

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)

Smooth prairie stars as observed on steep rocky slopes along the Pallisades Trail, Cottonwood Canyon State Park......March 22, 2019.

Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulbous Woodland Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, Smooth Fringecup, Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonyms: Lithophragma bulbifera, Lithophragma bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabra, Lithophragma glabrum var. bulbiferum, Lithophragma glabrum var. ramulosum, Lithophragma tenellum var. floridum, Tellima bulbifera, Tellima glabra)


Smooth prairie star found about 2 miles NE of Warm Springs, OR.....March 23, 1997.

Paul Slichter