Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Longstalk Starwort
Stellaria longipes
Pink family (Caryophyllaceae)

Longstalk Starwort (Stellaria longipes) grows to a very slender four-to-eight inches tall. It enjoys open , dry forests, and wet areas and thrives from the to the zones. Its leaves are narrow, cupped, and lustrous green, generally angling upward. White flower petals are deeply cut and about twice as long as the green . The name, Stellaria, is Latin for "star" and was given by Linnaeus in 1753. "Longipes," a name given by John Goldie, is from the Latin for "long limbed" referring to the plant's very lanky stature.


©2009 Keir Morse

Description

from forming small to large clumps of plants. Stems to 12" long (typically 7"), hairy or not. Leaves to 1 1/2" long, very narrow, , , sparingly hairy or , , smooth, shiny. Flowers solitary or few to several in open clusters. sometimes green, or not. . Petals white to 1/3" long . a , often purple.

Field Marks

Very slender, often short plant with upturned, bright white, relatively large flowers.

© Al Schneider

meadow -- Large grass and wildflower filled area with few, if any, trees.

An entire leaf has smooth edges. Not toothed or lobed.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.

ciliate -- fringed with hairs

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

rhizome -- root-like stems that may either grow horizontally at the soil surface or in other orientations underground.

sessile -- attached without a stalk. For example, a leaf that clasps the stalk. A petiolate leaf has a stalk.

montane -- inhabiting mountainous country but below timberline.

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

lanceolate -- Lance-shaped. Long, wider in the middle.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.