Bill's Botanical Forays

The Bulbous Woodland Star (Lithophragma glabrum Nutt.) stands out like little sprites where it grows. It is found from British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan on the north to Northern California, Nevada, Colorado on the South, with outlying populations in South Dakota. It is a member of the Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae). In Washington State, it is found mainly east of the Cascades

It thrives in various habitats including sagebrush desert, bunchgrass communities, and Ponderosa Pine dominated forests.

 

 

The slender glandular-pubescent flowering stems are from 2 to 6 inches tall and bear one to seven flowers. Each flower has five petals that are up to 7 mm long and are white to pinkish-tinged.

 

 

 

Tiny bulblets are located in axils of the bracts underneath the flowers. The bulblets drop to the ground and are capable of producing new plants by taking root.

 

 

 

 

The leaves located near the base of the stems are larger than the ones found up the stems.

 

 

 

 

 

John Torrey and Asa Gray named this genus of nine western species.  “Lithophragma” is from the Greek for “stone” and “fence”.