Parnassia glauca Raf.

grass of parnassus - Parnassia glauca Raf. 10AU03
grass of parnassus - Parnassia glauca Raf. 07AU06-01

characteristics

This circumpolar perennial plant is not a grass nor does it look like a grass. (Why it is called a grass is a mystery.)

At the plant's base are a rosette of spade-shaped leaves. Long stems with a clasping leaf midway give the impression the stem is growing out of the leaf. A single white flower with green-yellow translucent veins blooms at the stem's tip. At the flower's centre are a cluster of yellow stamens and infertile stamen-like nectar glands that are inviting to pollinators.
Also known as fen grass of parnassus, American grass-of-Parnussus, and bog-stars.

700,000 seeds/pound; starts from seed, container

T SSN H W sun soil H2O fire N2 pH summer fall flower (seed)
P W 0.7 0.2 S/PS F-M M •• - 6.0-8.0 green grey-yellow white

habitat

Streambanks, bogs and wet meadows.

uses

Used medicinally as a diuretic, sedative, and tonic.

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common > name = have on site
T = type: A = annual | B = biennial | P = perennial | SS = subshrub | D = deciduous | C = coniferous
██ = cold stratify | ██ = cold stratify & scarify | ██ = plant directly | ██ = scarify | ██ = not from seed
SSN = season: C = cool | W = warm | Y = late
H = height (in metres) | W = width (in metres) | B = bunch | S = sod | SB = sod/bunch
sun: S = full sun | S/PS = sun or partial shade | PS = partial shade | SH = full shade
soil: F = fine | M = medium | C = coarse
H2O = moisture requirement: D = dry | M = moist | W = wet | Z = aquatic
fire = fire tolerance: - = unknown | X = none | = some | •• = moderate | ••• = high tolerance
N2 = nitrogen fixing: = yes
summer = foliage colour | fall = foliage (stem) colour | flower (seed) = flower (seed / fruit) colour, if conspicuous
pH = acidity - alkalinity