Trientalis borealis Rafinesque. Northern Starflower, Maystar. Phen: May-Jun. Hab: Northern hardwood forests, rich slope forests, often in second-growth areas. Dist: 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).
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. – K3, K4, NE, NY, Manns & Anderberg (2009); = n/a – RAB; = Trientalis borealis Raf. ssp. borealis – K1; < Trientalis borealis Raf. – C, F, G, Il, Pa, Tn, W, WV
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