Star, Woodland,  Lithophragma bolanderi

Mid bloomer.  5 deeply notched petals,  leafless spike-like flowers. Grows on open slopes.

Notes:  Our species is probably Litophragma bolandari or Smooth Woodland Star.  These are aptly named, as they look like delicate stars at the end of a magic want.  The white, unlobed flowers appear to be attached almost directly to the plant stem.  It occurs on open slopes throughout the Sierra Foothills from 500’ to 5000’.   Lithrophragma means rock hedge and Parviflorum means small-flowered.  Bolander was an early 19^th century naturalist.  A related species is the Fringed Woodland Star, Lithophragma parviflorum, which have white to pink/lavender distinctly 3-lobed flowers.

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Kingdom Plantae -- Plants 
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants 
        Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants 
            Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants 
                Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons 
                    Subclass Rosidae 
                        Order Rosales 
                            Family Saxifragaceae -- Saxifrage family 
                                Genus Lithophragma (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray -- woodland-star
                                    Species Lithophragma bolanderi Gray -- Bolander's woodland-star

Star, Woodland,  Lithophragma bolanderi