Lithophragma parviflorum (Hook.) Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray
small-flowered woodland star (small-flowered fringecup)
Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Rod Innes     (Photo ID #6661)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Lithophragma parviflorum
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Lithophragma parviflorum var. parviflorum

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from slender rhizomes, with small bulblets; stems erect, 10-30 cm tall, densely glandular-hairy throughout, noticeably purplish above.
Leaves:
Basal leaves round-to kidney-shaped, 1-3 cm wide, palmately 3- to 5-divided nearly to the base, then again 2- to 3-times lobed, teeth more or less pointed; stalks slender, 2-6 cm long, with widened stipular bases; stem leaves 2 (1-3), more divided than basal, unstalked above.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a 5- to 11-flowered cluster; petals white or pinkish to purplish, 5, usually unequal, 5-10 mm long, clawed, the blades wedge egg-shaped, usually 3-cleft; calyces cone-shaped, 4-6 mm long (up to 10 mm long in fruit), part joined to ovary greater than the free hypanthium; calyx lobes 5, triangular egg-shaped, 1-2 mm long, almost as wide; stamens 10.
Fruits:
Capsules, about length of calyces when mature; seeds brown, elliptic, about 0.5 mm long, irregularly veiny and ridged lengthwise.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Lithophragma parviflorum

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 806 27 1751
Slope Gradient (%)
 29 0 80

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 200 2 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		3 0 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 159
Modal BEC Zone Class
 IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BG(25), CDF(4), ESSF(1), ICH(12), IDF(61), MS(2), PP(47)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry coastal bluffs, meadows, open coniferous and deciduous forests, grasslands and shrublands in the lowland and steppe to montane zones; frequent in extreme S BC; E to AB and S to NE, CO, UT, NV and CA.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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