Syn.: Dodecatheon acuminatum Rydb., Dodecatheon albidum Greene, Dodecatheon campestre Howell, Dodecatheon cylindrocarpum Rydb., Dodecatheon glastifolium Greene, Dodecatheon pulchrum Rydb., Primula conjugens (Greene) Mast et Reveal
Family: Primulaceae Vent.
Distribution: Western part of North America, from British Columbia to Saskatchewan, in US from Washington to Montana, Oregon to Wyoming, northeastern California and northwestern Nevada.
Ecology: Wet mountain meadows, margins of forests. As one of the common names suggests, it is a higher elevation plant, occurring from 1000 to 2500 m. Blooms in May and June, at higher elevations in July.
Description: Perennial herb, 5–30 cm tall, from small caudex with whitish roots. Leaves basal only, petiole slender, high elevation plants with almost sessile leaves, 4–10 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate or obovate, smooth margins, surface glandular pubescent, higher elevation plants densely pubescent. Inflorescence 1–7(–10)-flowered, scape glabrous, maroon, or green (in shade), bracts lanceolate, 3–10 mm, glandular pubescent; pedicels 1–5 cm, glabrous, maroon, purplish (in shade). Flowers 10–20 mm, pentamerous, magenta to white with fully recurved petals; calyx green to yellowish, 5–12 mm, glabrous, tubular with acuminate lobes, recurving with petals, yellow at base, forming wavy ring; filaments distinct, partially fused (conjugens) into a cone, yellowish, purple to dark maroon; stigma exserted. Fruit is a tan capsule, 8–12 mm long, seeds without membrane along edges.
Possible confusion: Dodecatheon pulchellum and D. jeffreyi are very similar, however the fused filaments form a cylinder instead of cone.
Note: A good rockery plant for your garden.
These images were taken in Canada, Alberta, Calgary, Edworthy Park (May 2014), and Alberta, Plateau Mountain (July 2011).
