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

Cascade grass-of-parnassus, San Bernardino grass of parnassus

kidneyleaf grass of parnassus

Habit Herbs with caudices. Herbs with caudices.
Stems

15–40 cm.

18–50 cm.

Leaves

basal in rosettes;

petiole 1–12 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) ovate-orbiculate to elliptic-ovate, 15–60 × 7–50 mm, base cuneate, rounded, or weakly cordate, apex rounded;

cauline usually on middle to distal 1/2 of stem, rarely absent.

basal in rosettes;

petiole 6–17 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) reniform to reniform-orbiculate, 20–60 × 25–100 mm, mostly wider than long, base cordate, apex rounded;

cauline on proximal 1/2 to middle of stem or absent.

Flowers

sepals reflexed in fruit, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate to ovate, 4–7 mm, margins sometimes scarious, to 0.1 mm wide, usually entire, rarely minutely denticulate distally, apex rounded;

petals 5–7-veined, oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, 8–15 × 3.3–9.8 mm, length 2 times sepals, base cuneate, margins fimbriate proximally;

stamens 6–9 mm;

anthers 1.5–2.2 mm;

staminodes scalelike proximally, distally divided into 5–15 gland-tipped filaments, 3.5–6 mm, shorter than stamens, apical glands globose, 0.2–0.4 mm;

ovary green.

sepals reflexed in fruit, oblong to obovate, 2.5–6.5 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2–0.4 mm wide, entire, apex rounded;

petals 11–18-veined, ovate-elliptic, 10–18 × 7–11 mm, length 2–3 times sepals, base abruptly contracted to 2–3.5 mm claw, margins entire or undulate;

stamens 8.5–11.5 mm;

anthers 2.2–3.2 mm;

staminodes 3-fid almost to base, gland-tipped, 5–9 mm, shorter than stamens, apical glands ovoid-conical, 0.5–0.9 mm;

ovary green.

Capsules

10 mm.

12 mm.

2n

= 32.

Parnassia cirrata

Parnassia asarifolia

Phenology Flowering summer–early fall.
Habitat Fens, wet woods, rocky banks, often on acidic soils.
Elevation 200–1500 m. (700–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; WA; BC; nw Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; GA; KY; MD; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

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

Parnassia asarifolia is considered endangered in Kentucky and Maryland. It is uncommon throughout its range.

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

Key
1. Larger petals 3.3–5.2(–7) mm wide, longer fimbriae (3.3–)3.5–6.5 mm; s California.
var. cirrata
1. Larger petals (4–)5–10 mm wide, longer fimbriae 1–3(–3.5) mm; British Columbia, n California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.
var. intermedia
Source FNA vol. 12, p. 115. FNA vol. 12, p. 116.
Parent taxa Celastraceae > Parnassia Celastraceae > Parnassia
Sibling taxa
P. asarifolia, P. caroliniana, P. fimbriata, P. glauca, P. grandifolia, P. kotzebuei, P. palustris, P. parviflora
P. caroliniana, P. cirrata, P. fimbriata, P. glauca, P. grandifolia, P. kotzebuei, P. palustris, P. parviflora
Subordinate taxa
P. cirrata var. cirrata, P. cirrata var. intermedia
Name authority Piper: Erythea 7: 128. (1899) Ventenat: Jard. Malmaison 1: plate 39. (1804)
Web links