Henderson's shooting star
Primula hendersonii
This plant relies on 'buzz pollination'—bumblebees must grip the flower and rapidly vibrate their flight muscles at a specific frequency to trigger the release of pollen.
- Scientific name
- Primula hendersonii
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Ericales › Primulaceae › Primula
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist, open oak woodlands, grassy slopes, and chaparral meadows.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (utilizes sunlight, water, and soil minerals via photosynthesis).
- Range
- California, USA, Oregon, USA, Washington, USA, British Columbia, Canada
- Size
- 10 to 50 cm tall.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (individual root crowns can live for over 5-10 years).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, urbanization, invasive plant species encroachment, and intensive livestock grazing.
- Safe to approach?
- This species is harmless and non-toxic to touch. When encountering it, remain on designated trails to avoid trampling the delicate foliage or compacting the soil around its shallow root system. Do not pick the wildflowers, as this prevents them from setting seed for the next generation.
Primula hendersonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to western North America, from California north to southern British Columbia and Idaho. Common names include broad-leaved shooting star , Henderson's shooting star , mosquito bills , and sailor caps .
Photo: Peter L Achuff, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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