Lysimachia latifolia

Lysimachia latifolia, sometimes called Trientalis latifolia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae.^[1][2][3][4] It is known as starflower,^[3][4][5] chickweed-wintergreen,^[5] or Pacific starflower.^[6]

Lysimachia latifolia
At Squak Mountain State Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Primulaceae
Genus:	Lysimachia
Species:	L. latifolia
Binomial name
Lysimachia latifolia (Hook.) Cholewa
Synonyms[1]
Trientalis borealis ssp. latifolia (Hook.) Hultén Trientalis europaea var. latifolia (Hook.) Torr. Trientalis europaea ssp. latifolia (Hook.) A.E.Murray Trientalis latifolia Hook.

Description

It is a low-growing, creeping perennial^[5][7] reaching (5 to 30 cm (2.0 to 11.8 in)).^[8] The roots are tuberous,^[5][7] creeping rhizomes.^[7] The stems are erect,^[7] 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high.^[5] It has 5 to 7 whorled, lanceolate, entire leaves distributed levelly in a single group.^[7]

The white or pink flowers are borne in April or May.^[5][7] The Calyx (the collective term for sepals) is 5- to 9-parted and persistent, and the corolla (the collective term for petals) is also 5- to 9-parted, rotate,^[5][7] with a very short tube^[7] and elliptic-lanceolate segments. Stamens occur in the same number as the corolla lobes (5–9)^[5][7] and are positioned opposite to them.^[5] 1-3 peduncles, 1-flowered, filiform, and ebracteate.^[7] The ovary is one-celled. The style (gynoecium) is filiform.^[5]

Habitat

Occurs on moist, shaded^[3][7] slopes in deep,^[3] light^[7] soil rich in organic matter,^[3][7] particularly leaf mould.^[7]

Distribution

• Canada: Occurs in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon.^[9]
• United States of America: Occurs throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon,^[9] and northern^[5] California.^[9]

Etymology

The former genus name Trientalis is derived from the Latin triens ('a third'), and is an allusion to the height of the plant, which is one third of a foot, or 4 in (10 cm) high.^[5][10] Latifolia is derived from the Latin words latus ('broad or wide') and folia ('leaves') and means approximately 'broad-leaved'.^[10]

The alternative name "Indian potato" refers to a small subterranean swelling at the stem's base, which is not listed as being edible by modern sources.^[11]