Parnassia palustris

Parnassia palustris, the marsh grass of Parnassus, northern grass-of-Parnassus, or just grass-of-Parnassus,^[2] and bog star,^[3] is a flowering plant in the staff-vine family Celastraceae.^[4]

Parnassia palustris
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Celastrales
Family:	Celastraceae
Genus:	Parnassia
Species:	P. palustris
Binomial name
Parnassia palustris L.

It is the county flower of Cumberland in England, and appears on its flag.^[5]

The name comes from ancient Greece: evidently the cattle on Mount Parnassus appreciated the plant; hence it was an "honorary grass".^[6] The specific epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.^[7] It was described by the Greek physician Dioscorides, growing up a mountain in 1st century A.D.^[8]

Description

This perennial plant is not a grass, nor does it look like one, but grows from a short underground stem. It has long stemmed heart-shaped leaves, which are 4-12 in (10–30 cm) long. In the centre of the leaf, is the flowering stem. The stem holds a solitary white flower, blooming between July and October. The flower has 5 stamens around the centre. The flower produces a honey-like scent to attract pollinators.^[8]

Range and distribution

Parnassia palustris is native to northern temperate parts of Eurasia^[9] where it is found in wet moorlands and marshes.^[8] It is now extinct in Algeria.^[9]

Uses

Seen on Mount Ontake, Otaki, Nagano prefecture, Japan

It was once used in herbal medicines, to treat disorders of the liver. An infusion of the leaves, (similar to a tea) was also used to treat indigestion. When added to wine or water, the leaves are claimed to dissolve kidney stones.^[8] It is also seen in the Cumberland flag, which is a historic English county and is within County Cumbria.^{[citation needed]}

History

While finishing his schooling in the School of Mines at Freiberg from June 14, 1791, to February 26, 1792, Alexander von Humboldt published three articles on plants in the Annalen der Botanik. These were his first of what the world famous explorer would produce. Notably, one was concerning "On the Motion of the Filaments of the Parnassia Palustris."^[10]