Lithophragma bolanderi
Lithophragma maximum
Bolander's woodland-star, hillstar
San Clemente Island woodland-star
branched, (rarely bearing bulbils in place of flowers), 25–85 cm.
simple, 40–60 cm.
in basal rosette and cauline, basal unlobed or 3–5-lobed, never deeply lobed, cauline (2–3+), alternate, often 3–4-lobed, much reduced, similar to basal, (rarely with axillary bulbils);
stipules small, not decurrent on petiole, (margins fimbriate);
petiole usually to 25 cm;
blade green, orbiculate, surfaces hairy.
in basal rosette and cauline, basal palmately compound, 3-foliolate, cauline 3-lobed, reduced distally, similar to basal;
stipules narrow, decurrent on petiole base, (margins laciniate);
petiole to 15 cm;
blade light to dark green, rhombic, (base cuneate), surfaces sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular.
1–3, erect, 3–5(–25)-flowered racemes, 2(–3)-branched, (10–85 cm).
2(–3), erect, 6–25-flowered racemes, simple, (9–10 cm).
equaling or shorter than hypanthium, (flowers long-pedicellate).
shorter than hypanthium.
persistent, fragrant, horizontal;
hypanthium narrowly campanulate with obtuse base, usually not elongating in fruit, throat open, (length 2 times diam.);
sepals erect in bud, widely spreading after anthesis, triangular;
petals (completely exserted), widely spreading, white, ovate-elliptic, narrowly clawed, usually unlobed with serrations at base, sometimes 3–5-lobed, 4–7 mm, ultimate margins entire;
ovary to 1/2 inferior;
styles slightly exerted in fruit;
stigma papillae apical.
persistent, fragrant, horizontal;
hypanthium spheric or campanulate, open at throat, (6 mm at anthesis, 8 mm in fruit);
sepals erect, triangular;
petals spreading, white, ovate, narrowly clawed, deeply lobed, 3.5–4.5 mm, ultimate margins irregularly toothed;
ovary 1/2 inferior;
styles exserted in fruit;
stigma papillae apical.
0.3–5 mm, tuberculate (tubercles in 3–19 rows, spinelike).
0.3–0.4 mm, tuberculate (tubercles spinelike).
= 14, 28, 35, 42.
Lithophragma bolanderi
Lithophragma maximum
Lithophragma bolanderi is known from California along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada from Shasta County to the San Gabriel Mountains and the north-central inner coastal mountains around San Francisco Bay north to Mendocino County.
Variable vegetative features, such as petal shape, size of seeds, and general growth habit, are the result of environmental factors and gene interchange among species. Lithophragma bolanderi is best distinguished from L. heterophyllum by the shape of the hypanthium base, position of styles and stigmas in fruit, length of seed tubercles, and general outline of the petals.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Lithophragma maximum is known from southeastern canyons on San Clemente Island (Channel Islands). In the late twentieth century, only 11 populations of approximately 200 plants were reported. It is rare and seriously endangered in California, and is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
