Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Primulaceae

Found this little Shootingstar just off Elbow Falls Trail, at Maclean Pond, in Kananaskis, on 12 June 2014. They are such exquisite wildflowers! Unfortunately, a single flowerhead doesn't quite fit into a macro photo, but I have to balance that with being able to get a soft, blurred background. "The genus (Dodecatheon) is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon

Beautiful magenta Shootingstar wildflowers, photographed at Bow Valley Provincial Park on 18 June 2013. I have taken many photos of these flowers over the last few years, but find it almost impossible to get a photo that I really like. Just love their colour. "Dodecatheon is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. The species have basal clumps of leaves and nodding flowers that are produced at the top of tall stems rising from where the leaves join the crown. The genus is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon

Beautiful magenta Shootingstar wildflowers, photographed at Bow Valley Provincial Park on 18 June 2013. Can't remember for sure, but I think the background was the distant river way down below. "Dodecatheon is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. The species have basal clumps of leaves and nodding flowers that are produced at the top of tall stems rising from where the leaves join the crown. The genus is largely confined to North America and part of northeastern Siberia. Common names include shooting star, American cowslip, mosquito bills, mad violets, and sailor caps. A few species are grown in gardens for their showy and unique flower display. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. The flowers are pollinated by bees, which grab hold of the petals, and gather pollen by vibrating the flowers by buzzing their wings (buzz pollination). The vibration releases pollen from the anthers." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon

This is an uncommon wildflower in the city, so we were very lucky to be shown it again this year. I never seem to be able to get a sharp photo of it, so then have to wait a whole year for my next chance : ) The flowering stem, which is 10-40 cm tall, is covered in white powder. The pale lilac to pink flowers themselves are 6-10 mm across, so only very tiny. The plant grows in sloughs, calcareous bogs and saline meadows.

This is such a tiny plant, but so pretty when you zoom in and really take a closer look. I would say this plant was maybe an inch and a half to two inches across, if that. Seen at Nose Hill four days ago, growing on dry, open ground amongst the rocks and gravel. The tiny, white flower is 3-5 mm across and grows May-August.

Not the best photo, but usually I see and photograph the Saline Shootingstars, so wanted to add a Mountain Shootingstar to my Plants of Alberta Set(s). These small, native wildflowers are such a pretty magenta. Photographed on Nose Hill.

This is a supermacro shot of a tiny, delicate flower, taken near Forgetmenot Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail, W of Calgary, in Kananaskis. This is the only place I will drive to, to get into the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, but I'm really thankful that I am able to get that far. This drive was on 1 July 2011. This flower is also known as Alpine Rock Jasmine and Sweet-flowered fairy candelabra. Not as sharp as it should have been, which no doubt is the reason I didn't post it before : ) "This tiny flower is often missed, but always a pleasant discovery. It grows from a trailing, often reddish, stem. Periodically a dense tuft of leaves will form, and an erect stem will sprout. Topping this stem is a small cluster of delicate white flowers with a yellow ring in the centre. It reminds one of a white forget-me-not, and is rarely forgotten." www.mountainnature.com/Plants/PlantsLatinNameResult.asp?I...

These small, native wildflowers are exquisite. The stamens are thrust out with the sepals bent back. Every now and then, I need to add a splash of a totally different colour in my photostream, so, even though I did post a similar photo ages ago, I thought this photo would do the trick, ha. Photographed at Maclean Pond, off Elbow Falls Trail, on June 10th. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecatheon

Photographed (macro) these tiny flowers at Griffith Woods on June 20th. These very small, native wildflowers belong to the Primrose family, Primulaceae. Also called Rock Jasmine.

I rarely see this wildflower, Loosestrife, so I was happy to come across several plants on a local walk this afternoon. I always call this Fringed Loosestrife, but now I notice that these petals are, in fact, not fringed. Doug - I need help, LOL!

I never seem to be able to get a decent photo of this plant, especially the yellow flower. I always like the seedpods - they remind me of tiny, round, green candles! Yes, weird, I know : )