Minnesota Wildflowers


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Lysimachia borealis (Starflower)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:Lysimachia
Family:Myrsinaceae (Myrsine)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, shade; moist, rich woods
Bloom season:May - June
Plant height:4 to 8 inches
County distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: 7+petals

[photo of flowers] Star-shaped white flower at the end of a slender naked stalk that arises from the leaf joint at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are ½ inch across, have 6 to 8 petals, with 7 petals most common, and yellow-tipped stamens that turn brown with maturity. One plant commonly has 1 or 2 flowers.

Leaves and stem: whorl simple

[photo of leaves] 5 to 9 leaves (commonly 7) of unequal size are in a single whorl at the top of the main stem, just below the flowers. Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 1¼ inch wide, toothless and hairless, with a pointed tip and tapering at the base. There may be a few small leafy appendages alternately attached on the otherwise naked main stem.

Notes:

Starflower tends to grow in colonies. Formerly known as Trientalis borealis and in the Primulaceae (Primrose) family, it has been shuffled around to new species name Lysimachia borealis (same genus as the yellow Loosestrifes) and moved to the Myrsinaceae (Myrsine) family.

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  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN May 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Mark in Oakdale Nature Preserve, Oakdale, MN
on: 2010-06-13 13:34:38

May 2010 - Most flowers have 7-8 petals, but some have 9! See http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=356057&l=a8e619b87b&id=100000186001287

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