Trientalis borealis Raf.
Detail
- Family
- Primulaceae
- Botanical Name
- Trientalis borealis Raf.
- Common Name
- Northern Starflower
- Synonym(s)
- Lysimachia borealis U. Manns & A. Anderberg
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Trientalis borealis Raf.
- Comments
- Weakley (2012 Draft Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States) follows Manns and Anderberg (Willdenowia 39: 49-54, 2009) in transferring Trientalis to Lysimachia. However, previous studies by the same authors (Int. J. Pl. Sci. 166:1019-1028, 2005) show conflicting placement of Trientalis suggesting a hybrid origin. Also, while not true for the other genera they studied, Trientalis is monophyletic. Trientalis borealis has a number of morphological characters that set it apart from most Lysimachia species, including a short stature, a single terminal whorl of leaves, hexa- or heptamerous flowers, and thin disintegrating capsules. Considering all of these factors, we are opting to keep this species in Trientalis, at least until more convincing evidence to the contrary is produced.
- Habitat
- Cove forests, northern hardwood forests, montane oak and oak-hickory forests, seepage swamp hummocks. Frequent at middle to higher elevations in the mountains but apparently absent from far sw. Virginia; rare in the n. Piedmont.
- Native Status
- Native
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