Primula latiloba
Primula latiloba, synonyms Dodecatheon dentatum and Dodecatheon latilobum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, known by the common names white shooting star and toothed American cowslip. It is native to areas of western North America, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Description Primula latiloba is an herbaceous perennial growing to in height. This species has toothed (dentate) leaves, hence one of its common names. The leaves have pointed oval blades up to 10 cm long by 6 cm wide with wavy or toothed edges. Each is borne on a long, winged petiole. The inflorescence contains 1 to 12 flowers. It arises on a tall, erect flowering stalk. The flower corolla has five white lobes each 1 or 2 centimeters long. They are reflexed away from the flower's center, which contains one style surrounded by large reddish, purplish or black anthers containing pollen. Its bloom period is May to July. The petals are white or cream. It is the only shooting star to have populations with consistently white flowers. Taxonomy The species was first described as Dodecatheon dentatum by William Jackson Hooker in 1838. In 1876, Asa Gray described Dodecatheon meadia var. latilobum. In 1905, this taxon