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Description:
Northern starflower is a low, fragile (Hemmerly 2000) perennial herb growing from 3 to 25 cm in height. Northern starflower has a terminal whorl of 4 to 7 lanceolate leaves approximately 3 to 11 cm in length with conspicuous veins on the upper leaf surface. In addition, the stem may have several alternate scale-like leaves. From April to June, northern starflower produces terminal, solitary flowers on long slender stalks approximately 2 to 5 cm in length which rise above the leaf whorl. Occasionally, northern starflower may produce a few flowers instead of just one, each on individual stalks. The corolla is white, deeply 7-lobed and spreading in a star-like pattern hence its name. The corolla is 8 to 14 mm in length and spreading like a 7-pointed star. From June through July, a globose capsule (fruit) approximately 6 to 8 mm in diameter is produced, splitting by 5 halves containing numerous tiny seeds. When not in flower, northern starflower resembles young cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana) (Patrick et. al. 1995).
Habitat:
Northern starflower inhabits rich slope forests (Weakley 2003) in northern hardwoods at hight elevations (Patrick et. al., 1995) often inhabiting second growth forests (Weakley 2003). Common associate species include mountain maple (Acer spicatum) and mountain wintergreen (Ilex montana) (Patrick et. al., 1995). Northern starflower is uncommon in Virginia, rare farther south (Georgia state endangered species and a North Carolina candidate). A few locations are known for the species in north Georgia and northeastern Tennessee. Northern starflower was first located in North Carolina in 1988 (Weakley 2003).
Range:
Northern starflower is a local and disjunct species in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee and infrequently found in the mountains of western Virginia and West Virginia. Northern starflower becomes more common northward extending from Alberta to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (Patrick et. al. 1995).
References
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