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Primulaceae
Trientalis

not marked as a favorite taxon Trientalis borealis Rafinesque. Common name: Northern Starflower, Maystar, Star-of-Seven. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Northern hardwood forests, rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas. Distribution: This northern species, widespread in the mountains of VA, and known from a few locations in n. GA and ne. TN (Chester, Wofford, & Kral 1997), was first located in NC only in 1988 (Dellinger 1989).

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: "The attractive white corollas, usually with 7 petals united only at the very base, are open in the late spring and they drop intact – like fallen stars" (Voss 1996). This species can be recognized by its terminal whorl of leaves (4-10 cm long), the one to several white flowers borne on terminal, slender pedicels, each flower typically with 7 petals (inconspicuously united at the bases), each petal acuminate.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA8, Mi, Va; = Lysimachia borealis (Raf.) U.Manns & Anderb. — Can, K4, NE, NY, Manns & Anderberg (2009); = n/a — RAB; = Trientalis borealis Raf. ssp. borealis; < Trientalis borealis Raf. — C, F, G, Il, Pa, Tat, Tn, W, WV. Basionym: Trientalis borealis Raf. 1808

Links to other floras: = Trientalis borealis - FNA8

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 3

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image #1 of Trientalis borealis© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Trientalis borealis© Alan Cressler: Lysimachia borealis (Trientalis borealis), Chattahoochee National Forest, Union County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Trientalis borealis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Trientalis borealis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Trientalis borealis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial from a slender, creeping rhizome, found in northern hardwood forests and rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas.

Stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves 5-10 in a single whorl at top of stem, short-petiolate or sessile, lance-shaped, unequal, 1 1/2-4 in. long, minutely wavy-edged, glossy; 1-2 small, scale-like leaves may be alternate on mid-stem.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers usually 1--2 on slender stalks from center of leaf whorl, white, ¼--½ in. wide, consisting of 7 spreading, oval to lance-shaped, pointy-tipped petals and 7 stamens.

Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

Comments:

Height: 3-10 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial from a slender, creeping rhizome, found in northern hardwood forests and rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas.

stems: Stems unbranched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves 5-10 in a single whorl at top of stem, short-petiolate or sessile, lance-shaped, unequal, 1 1/2-4 in. long, minutely wavy-edged, glossy; 1-2 small, scale-like leaves may be alternate on mid-stem.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers usually 1--2 on slender stalks from center of leaf whorl, white, ¼--½ in. wide, consisting of 7 spreading, oval to lance-shaped, pointy-tipped petals and 7 stamens.

fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.

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cultural notes:

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