As spring growth expands, woodland stars emerge with their delicate and distinctive flowers. Although they disappear quickly, we can see them emerge at higher locations at a later time.

• Lithophragma parviflorum is a perennial herb in the saxifrage family growing 10 to 30 cm tall.
• A clump of basal leaves on glandular and hairy stems emerges from rhizomes. The leaves are round/kidney shaped, lobed and divided. Stem leaves are more divided and have no stalks.
• From 4 to 14 white (with some pink) flowers form at the tips of the stalks. The petals (most often 4) are divided into 3 segments.
• Rice-like bulblets often form at the bases or in the axils of the leaves.
• Other names for woodland star are small-flowered fringecup and small-flowered woodland star.
• Woodland star can be spotted across a wide area in western North America.
• Lithophragama glabrum (bulbous woodland star, bulbiferous prairie-star, smooth woodland star, and smooth rockstar) also grows in our area. It has fewer flowers and has red or green sepals. Bulblets often form by the bracts.
• All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a caption and lightbox view. Email subscribers can follow this link to see the images.

• Seeds/fruits form in capsules.
• Woodland star is common in sagebrush grasslands, glades and openings next to ponderosa and fir forests, in meadows, in aspen grove areas, and on hillsides at lower-mid elevations in our area.

The delicate fringed flowers of woodland star are a welcome sight in spring. We have found that the petals are excellent reflectors of light so photos taken in full sun require some adjustments.