The
photo at right of shows a close-up of the flower of broad-leaf starflower as
seen on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams........June 2005.
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.
Broad-leaf starflower is a plant which may be found in woods or prairies.
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.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4200' between the western entrance to the gorge and approximately the Klickitat River.
