Shooting Star

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The unique look of shooting stars makes them an easily identifiable flower. The picture shows the flower's colorful petals pointing in the opposite direction of the filaments and anthers.

All shooting stars belong to a genus of flowering plants (Dodecatheon) in the primrose family.

Regionally based species can be found throughout North America in a variety of habitats, including woodlands and meadows. The majority of species are West Coast native plants.

The picture shows Henderson's Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), also known as a Woodland Shooting Star. Multiple flowers sprout from a single stem that grows about a foot above the ground.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels