Trollius albiflorus
Trollius laxus
American globe-flower, globeflower, western globeflower, white globe-flower
American globe-flower, spreading globe-flower
0.7-5.5 dm (to 8dm in fruit), base with few petioles persistent from previous year.
to 0.5-5.2 dm, base with few petioles (occasionally thatchlike) persisting from previous year.
basal leaves with petioles 4-25 cm, some leaves reduced to sessile, ovate membranous scales;
cauline leaves 1-3(-5), with broad, clasping, membranous sheaths.
basal leaves with petioles to 5-30 cm;
cauline leaves 2-5, base scarcely membranous or clasping.
2.5-5 cm diam.;
sepals 5-9, spreading, white when fresh (pale yellow to greenish white before anthesis), ovate to obovate or nearly orbiculate, 10-20 mm;
petals 15-25, yellow, 1/2-2/3 length of stamens when pollen shed, 3-6 mm.
2.5-5 cm diam.;
sepals 5-7(-9), spreading, bright to pale yellow when fresh, ovate to obovate or nearly orbiculate, 10-20 mm;
petals 10-15(-25), yellow, 1/2-2/3 length of stamens when pollen shed, 3-6 mm.
usually 11-14, 8-16 mm including beak;
beak often somewhat recurved, sometimes straight.
usually 5-12, 8-12 mm including beak;
beak usually straight or slightly incurved (rarely slightly recurved).
=16.
=32.
Trollius albiflorus
Trollius laxus
The diploid Trollius albiflorus is isolated from the tetraploid T. laxus ecologically, geographically, and reproductively, although it often has been treated as a variety of the latter.
Identities of specimens of Trollius albiflorus and the superficially similar Anemone narcissiflora subsp. zephyra in Colorado and Wyoming are sometimes confused. Close examination reveals a number of differences. The anemone has sepals yellow (not white), leaf blades and flowering stems pilose to villous (not glabrous), achenes (not follicles), and leaflike bracts subtending the pedicels and whorled (leaves alternate in Trollius).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Trollius laxus is closely related to the widespread, relatively common, western species T. albiflorus. Morphologically, the two are separated only by sepal color and the tendency for T. albiflorus to have slightly recurved follicular beaks and slightly smaller seeds.
Trollius laxus has been extirpated from central Pennsylvania. The species has been reported from Michigan; E. G. Voss (1972+, vol. 2) cast doubt on its occurrence there because no specimens to substantiate the reports have been found.
The Cherokee used infusions prepared from the leaves and stems of Trollius laxus to treat thrash (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
BC
OR
WA
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
SW CO Wildflowers
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
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