Bog Star

Plants 11-40 cm tall. Radical leaves broadly cordate, 1-2 cm long, 0.6-l.8 cm broad, somewhat glaucous, cauline leaf situated below the middle of the scape. Scape angular. Flowers 1.5-2 cm in diameter. Calyx tube c.1 mm long, lobes 4-5 mm long, c.2-2.5 mm broad, elliptic, acute, brown spotted. Petals 0.7-1 cm long, 5-7 mm broad, oblong-ovate, obtuse, usually 9 nerved, nerves mostly parallel and convergent at the top; staminodes spathulate, ending in 9-17 lobes tipped with pseudo-nectaries. Capsule globose, c.1 cm long; seeds minute, somewhat cylindrical, testa loose, reticulate.

Stems 2-4(-7), 12-20(-30) cm, usually with 1 leaf near middle. Basal leaves 3 to numerous; petiole 3-6(-8) cm; leaf blade abaxially greenish, often purple punctate, adaxially deep green, ovate or long ovate, occasionally triangular-ovate, 1.5-3 × 1-2.5 cm, base subcordate, apex rounded-obtuse or acuminate, often apiculate. Cauline leaf sessile, semiamplexicaul, similar to basal leaves, base often with several rusty brown appendages. Flower 2.2-3(-3.5) cm in diam.; hypanthium inconspicuous. Sepals densely purple-brown punctate, elliptic or oblong, 5-8 × 3-5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse. Petals white, often purple punctate, broadly ovate or obovate, 1-1.5(-1.8) × 0.7-1(-13) cm, base with a short claw, margin entire or occasionally inconspicuously erose, apex rounded-obtuse or shortly acuminate. Anthers ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm; filaments 2.2-7 mm; staminodes to 1 cm, divided into (7-)9-21 filiform rays with globose glands at apex. Ovary superior, ovoid; style very short; stigma 4-lobed. Capsule ovoid. Seeds brown, glossy, oblong. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct. 2n = 18, (27), 36.

Distribution: Fairly common in the temperate and alpine regions of Europe, N. Asia and N. America, grows mostly in moist and boggy places in grass.

Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shanxi, N Xinjiang [Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia; Europe, North America].

Fl. Per.: June-August.

Moist grassy slopes, streamsides, shaded moist places in valleys, grassy fields; 1200-2200 m.