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Shooting Star · Dodecatheon poeticum

Dodecatheon poeticum ©Ellen Mast

Description: The colorful petals of this small but spectacular beauty are turned backwards over the floral tube, so that the flower looks like a fantastic miniature missile launch. Petals are purple, stamens and pistil create a yellow "nose-cone". The flowers, 3/4 - 1" long, top a long, erect stalk growing from tufted rosettes of basal leaves. Shooting star may be found growing wild from coastal prairies to mountain meadows and streamsides.