White form shown above, have seen the white-flowered form a handful of times

Leaves with very small hairs on margin

Small plant with showy purple-pink flowers with reflexed petals. Petals between 1.5 cm and 2 cm in length. We measured plants to 14.5 cm tall. Leaves are all basal, obovate to oblanceolate, 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. The leaves with small hairs on margins and pubescent on bottom and top.

Distinguished from the other Shooting Star native to our province (Dodecatheon pulchellum) by:

1) petals greater than or equal to 1.5 cm in length for D. conjugens vs. petals less than or equal to 1.5 cm for D. pulchellum (from Taxonomic Reminder for Recognizing Saskatchewan Plants)
2) leaves hairy for D. conjugens, vs. leaves glabrous for D. pulchellum
3) May bloom time for D. conjugens vs. June bloom time for D. pulchellum, but I've photographed both plants blooming in May.

This plant is commonly found on hillsides and meadows throughout the Cypress Hills.

Photos taken May 8th and May 23rd, Cypress Hills, 400 km southwest of our home in Regina, SK.

[ Home ]