Western Star Flower, photographer Shari Brewer
The dainty Western Star Flower is a
common flower of the western Cascade Mountain Range and blooms early,
often growing into thick mats on the forest floor where they can catch a
little sunlight. This flower grows along with Siberian Miner's Lettuce, Spring Beauty Claytonia and Western Bleeding Heart. Although regarded as an early spring blooming plant, you will find Western Star Flower blooming clear into
August in higher elevations. "Latifolia"
meaning "wide- leaved", this plant bares 3 to 7 delicate broad leaves 1
to 4 inches long. In the the center of the plant, the flowers arise on
delicate stems. Each flower has 6 white to pale-pink petals with 6
stamens surrounding a short pistil.
Another common name for this plant is
"Indian Potato" referring to the numerous small spindle shaped roots
which are quite starchy and nutritious and were harvested by
northwestern tribes. This plant also provides a valuable a source of
food for wildlife, and you can sometimes find patches where bears have
been digging up the roots, or see the stubble of plants cropped by
browsing deer.