The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

Carolina grass of parnassus

bigleaf grass of parnassus, largeleaf grass of parnassus

Habit Herbs with horizontal creeping rhizomes. Herbs with caudices.
Stems

20–60 cm.

12–70 cm.

Leaves

basal 1–2 per node on rhizomes;

petiole 8–22 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) ovate to suborbiculate, 20–75 × 15–70 mm, longer than to ca. as long as wide, base rounded to subcordate, apex obtuse;

cauline on proximal 1/2 of stem or absent.

basal in rosettes;

petiole 3–15 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) oblong-ovate to suborbiculate, 25–80 × 20–70 mm, longer than to ca. as long as wide, base rounded to subcordate, apex obtuse;

cauline on proximal half of stem or absent.

Flowers

sepals reflexed in fruit, oblong to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–5 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2 mm wide, entire, apex obtuse;

petals 7–12-veined, broadly ovate, 14–20 × 9–12 mm, length 3–4 times sepals, base rounded, margins entire or undulate;

stamens 7–11 mm;

anthers 1.8–3 mm;

staminodes 3-fid almost to base, gland-tipped, 9–14 mm, longer than stamens, apical glands lanceolate, 1–1.7 mm;

ovary white.

sepals reflexed in fruit, oblong to ovate, 2.5–5 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2–0.5 mm wide, entire, apex obtuse;

petals 7–11-veined, oblong to ovate, 15–22 × 6–10 mm, length 3–4 times sepals, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire or undulate;

stamens 7–9 mm;

anthers 2–3 mm;

staminodes 3-fid almost to base, gland-tipped, 10–16 mm, longer than stamens, apical glands elliptic to subglobose, 0.4–0.6 mm;

ovary green, sometimes whitish at base.

Capsules

10–15 mm.

10–15 mm.

2n

= 32.

Parnassia caroliniana

Parnassia grandifolia

Phenology Flowering late summer–fall. Flowering mid summer–fall.
Habitat Wet pine savannas, seepage slopes, streamhead ecotones, all subject to recurring fires. Wet, calcareous rocks, shores, meadows, fens.
Elevation 10–300 m. (0–1000 ft.) 200–1400 m. (700–4600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
FL; NC; SC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; KY; LA; MO; MS; NC; OK; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Parnassia caroliniana is rare throughout its range; it is listed as endangered in Florida and North Carolina.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Parnassia grandifolia is uncommon throughout most of its range; it is listed as endangered in Florida and Kentucky, threatened in North Carolina, and of special concern in Tennessee.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 117. FNA vol. 12, p. 116.
Parent taxa Celastraceae > Parnassia Celastraceae > Parnassia
Sibling taxa
P. asarifolia, P. cirrata, P. fimbriata, P. glauca, P. grandifolia, P. kotzebuei, P. palustris, P. parviflora
P. asarifolia, P. caroliniana, P. cirrata, P. fimbriata, P. glauca, P. kotzebuei, P. palustris, P. parviflora
Name authority Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 184. (1803) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 320. (1824)
Web links