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fringe grass-of-parnassus, Rocky Mountain parnassia

kidneyleaf grass of parnassus

Habit Herbs with caudices. Herbs with caudices.
Stems

10–35 cm.

18–50 cm.

Leaves

basal in rosettes;

petiole 2–16 cm;

blade (of larger leaves) orbicular-reniform to reniform, 10–50 × 15–60 mm, base cordate, apex rounded;

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

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, oblong-elliptic to ovate, 4–6 mm, margins hyaline, 0.2–0.5 mm wide, denticulate, erose, or short-fimbriate distally, apex rounded;

petals 5–7-veined, oblanceolate to obovate, 8–14 × 4–8 mm, length 2 times sepals, base cuneate, margins fimbriate proximally;

stamens 6–9 mm;

anthers 1.5–2.5 mm;

staminodes oblong-obovate, irregularly divided into 5–10+ oblong, obtuse lobes, usually glandular at apex but tip not differentiated into distinct gland, 3–5 mm, shorter than stamens;

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

8–12 mm.

12 mm.

2n

= 36.

= 32.

Parnassia fimbriata

Parnassia asarifolia

Phenology Flowering summer. Flowering summer–early fall.
Habitat Stream banks, wet meadows, fens, seeps in forest glades, alpine ravines. Fens, wet woods, rocky banks, often on acidic soils.
Elevation 10–3200 m. (0–10500 ft.) 200–1500 m. (700–4900 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NT; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; GA; KY; MD; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 115. FNA vol. 12, p. 116.
Parent taxa Celastraceae > Parnassia Celastraceae > Parnassia
Sibling taxa
P. asarifolia, P. caroliniana, P. cirrata, 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
Name authority K. D. König: Ann. Bot. (König & Sims) 1: 391. (1804) Ventenat: Jard. Malmaison 1: plate 39. (1804)
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