[Prairie Stars and Woodland Stars: The Genus Lithophragma in the Columbia
River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Bulbiferous Prairie-star, Bulblet Prairie Star, Bulbous Woodland-star, 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
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The photo at left shows a close-up of the narrow, deeply 5-cleft petals of smooth prairie star as seen from along The Dalles Mt. Road to the northeast of The Dalles, Oregon.........March 17, 2007. The photo at right shows smooth prairie stars blooming along the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail.....March 16, 2024.
Smooth prairie stars from
scablands about 5 miles NW of The Dalles, OR....March 2, 1997.
Characteristics:
The USDA PLANTS Database currently has the species name spelled
Lithophrgma glabrum. In addition, it 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 bulblets may also be found within the inflorescence.
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.
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.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between 100'-3000'
on rocky outcrops near Crown Point east to near Horsethief Butte.
The photo above shows the cup-shaped calyx of smooth prairie star. The calyx of the similar
small-flowered prairie star tapers much more gradually than that of the smooth prairie star. Photographed along the Dalles Mt. Road to the northeast of The Dalles, OR..........March 17, 2007.
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Smooth prairie star blooming at left along the Cherry Orchard Trail in the Columbia River Gorge..........March 7, 2011. The photo at right shows smooth prairie star blooming at Catherine Creek........March 23, 2017.
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Smooth prairie stars in bloom along the Cherry Orchard Trail in the Columbia River Gorge.........March 14, 2012.
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Smooth prairie stars blooming on open slopes above the Crawford Oaks trailhead at Columbia Hills State Park.........February 18, 2015.
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The photo at left shows an early blooming smooth prairie star as seen along the old highway between the Coyote Wall Trailhead and the Labyrinth, Columbia River Gorge..........January 25, 2015. The photo at right shows smooth prairie stars blooming on a rock outcrop on USFS lands above the Wasco County Rock Quarry on Sevenmile Hill.........March 8, 2015..
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Smooth prairiestars beginning to bloom on the south-facing slopes of Sevenmile Hill above the County Rock Quarry, Columbia River Gorge.........February 15, 2016.
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Smooth prairie star found at left about 2 miles NE
of Warm Springs, OR.........March 23, 1997. The photo at right shows smooth prairie stars blooming along the Memaloose Trail east of Mosier, OR.......March 20, 2018.
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Smooth prairiestars in bloom at left on the south-facing slopes of USFS lands on Sevenmile Hill........February 21, 2020.
Smooth prairiestars in bloom at right on the south-facing slopes of USFS lands on Sevenmile Hill........March 4, 2021.
Paul Slichter