Plant Species of San Jacinto Mountain: Dodecatheon alpinum, alpine shooting star
Wellman Cienega, 11 July 2008. Click on picture for larger version.
Young plants of Dodecatheon alpinum are easily mistaken for young plants of Aster alpigenus. See side by side pictures of them to see their differences.
The leaves of Dodecatheon alpinum are linear-oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded at apex, and have just a single somewhat-obscure midvein.
The leaves of Aster alpigenus var. andersonii are linear to linear-elliptic, tapering at each end, definitely 3-5 veined, with a tip that is broadly rounded to obtuse.
In addition, Aster alpigenus has a long thickened conical root, seen in the pix below for plants that were browsed by some animal, whereas Dodecatheon alpinum has a spherical root like a bulb.
Photographs
Click on the thumbnail pictures to get a larger version of any of them.
Flowers
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 | 
Round Valley Meadow, 29 June 2008 | 
Round Valley Meadow, 29 June 2008 |
Leaves
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 21 October 2009 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 21 October 2009 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 21 October 2009 |
Listera Meadow, upper 7 Pines Trail, 21 September 2011 | 
Listera Meadow, upper 7 Pines Trail, 21 September 2011 |
The following leaf rosettes are somewhat unusual young early-season plants of Dodecatheon alpinum, with more leaves per rosette, with most of them wider near the base than typical leaves. A follow-up late-season visit to the same location on 30 September 2011 showed normal-looking plants.
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 | 
Skunk Cabbage Meadow, 20 June 2008 |