Parnassia palustris

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Parnassia palustris
Parnassia palustris - Niitvalja bog.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Parnassia
Species:
P. palustris
Binomial name
Parnassia palustris
L.
Parnassia palustris distribution maps.svg

Parnassia palustris, the marsh grass of Parnassus, northern grass-of-Parnassus, or just grass-of-Parnassus, [2] and bog star, [3] is a flowering plant in the staff-vine family Celastraceae. [4]

Contents

It is the county flower of Cumberland in England, and appears on its flag. [5]

The name comes from ancient Greece: evidently the cattle on Mount Parnassus appreciated the plant; hence it was an "honorary grass". [6] The specific epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat. [7] It was described by the Greek physician Dioscorides, growing up a mountain in 1st century A.D. [8]

Description

This perennial plant is not a grass, nor does it look like one, but grows from a short underground stem. It has long stemmed heart-shaped leaves, which are 4-12 in (10–30 cm) long. In the centre of the leaf, is the flowering stem. The stem holds a solitary white flower, blooming between July and October. The flower has 5 stamens around the centre. The flower produces a honey-like scent to attract pollinators. [8]

Range and distribution

Parnassia palustris is native to northern temperate parts of Eurasia [9] where it is found in wet moorlands and marshes. [8] It is now extinct in Algeria. [9]

Uses

Seen on Mount Ontake, Otaki, Nagano prefecture, Japan Parnassia palustris (Mount Ontake s2).JPG
Seen on Mount Ontake, Ōtaki, Nagano prefecture, Japan

It was once used in herbal medicines, to treat disorders of the liver. An infusion of the leaves, (similar to a tea) was also used to treat indigestion. When added to wine or water, the leaves are claimed to dissolve kidney stones. [8]

History

While finishing his schooling in the School of Mines at Freiberg from June 14, 1791, to February 26, 1792, Alexander von Humboldt published three articles on plants in the Annalen der Botanik. These were his first of what the world famous explorer would produce. Notably, one was concerning "On the Motion of the Filaments of the Parnassia Palustris." [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cirsium palustre</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Cirsium palustre, the marsh thistle or European swamp thistle, is a herbaceous biennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Caltha palustris</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennial herbaceous plant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodland in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It flowers between April and August, dependent on altitude and latitude, but occasional flowers may occur at other times.

<i>Parnassia</i> Genus of flowering plants

The genus Parnassia, also known as grass of Parnassus or bog-stars, are plants now placed in the family Celastraceae, formerly classified in Parnassiaceae or Saxifragaceae. The plants occur in arctic and alpine habitats, as well as in dune systems and fens, swamps, wet meadows, open seepage areas, moist woods, and across the Northern Hemisphere. It is actually not a grass, but an herbaceous dicot. The stalk of the plant can reach up to 200 millimeters (8 in), the leaves up to 100 mm (4 in) and the petals can be up to 36 mm (1.4 in) wide. The flower has five white petals with light green venation. There are five three-pronged sterile stamens, each tipped with drop-like false nectaries, which attract pollinating flies and bees.

<i>Andropogon gerardi</i> Species of grass

Andropogon gerardi, commonly known as big bluestem, is a species of tall grass native to much of the Great Plains and grassland regions of central and eastern North America. It is also known as tall bluestem, bluejoint, and turkeyfoot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parnassiaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Parnassiaceae Gray were a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Celastrales. The family is not recognized in the APG III system of plant classification. When that system was published in 2009, Parnassiaceae were treated as subfamily Parnassioideae of an expanded family Celastraceae.

<i>Scheuchzeria</i> Genus of flowering plants

Scheuchzeria palustris, is a flowering plant in the family Scheuchzeriaceae, in which there is only one species and Scheuchzeria is the only genus. In the APG II system it is placed in the order Alismatales of the monocots.

<i>Stachys palustris</i> Species of flowering plant

Stachys palustris, commonly known as marsh woundwort, marsh betony,clown's woundwort, clown's heal-all, marsh hedgenettle, or hedge-nettle, is an edible perennial grassland herb growing to 80 centimeters tall. It is native to parts of Eurasia but has been introduced to North America. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.

<i>Comarum palustre</i> Species of flowering plant

Comarum palustre, known by the common names purple marshlocks, swamp cinquefoil and marsh cinquefoil, is a common waterside shrub. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, particularly the northern regions. It is most commonly found on lake shores, marshy riversides and stream margins, often partly submerged with foliage floating. It is a parent of some FragariaComarum hybrids, ornamental plants produced by crossing with strawberries.

<i>Epipactis palustris</i> Species of orchid

Epipactis palustris, the marsh helleborine, is a species of orchid native to Europe and Asia.

<i>Rosa palustris</i> Species of shrub

Rosa palustris, the swamp rose, is a shrub in the rose family native to much of eastern North America. It can be found from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the north, south to Florida and west to Arkansas and Ontario. It is a host of the blinded sphinx moth and Coptotriche admirabilis.

<i>Tephroseris palustris</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Tephroseris palustris, also known by its common names swamp ragwort, northern swamp groundsel, marsh fleabane, marsh fleawort, clustered marsh ragwort and mastodon flower, a herbaceous species of the family Asteraceae. It can be seen most easily when its bright yellow umbel flowers appear from May to early July standing 3 to 4 feet along marshes, stream banks and slough areas where it likes to grow.

<i>Lathyrus palustris</i> Species of legume

Lathyrus palustris is a species of wild pea known by the common name marsh pea. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a perennial herb with leaves made up of oval-shaped or oblong leaflets a few centimeters long. It has branched, coiled tendrils. The plant bears an inflorescence of two to eight pinkish purple pea flowers each up to two centimeters wide. The fruit is a dehiscent legume pod.

Palustris is a Latin word meaning "swampy" or "marshy", and may refer to:

<i>Ludwigia palustris</i> Species of plant

Ludwigia palustris is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names marsh seedbox, Hampshire-purslane and water purslane. This is an aquatic or semiaquatic perennial herb which grows in moist to wet to flooded areas. It is sometimes a weed. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat.

<i>Triglochin palustris</i> Species of flowering plant

Triglochin palustris or marsh arrowgrass is a species of flowering plant in the arrowgrass family Juncaginaceae. It is found in damp grassland usually on calcareous soils, fens and meadows. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found locally in the British Isles especially the north.

<i>Parnassia fimbriata</i> Species of flowering plant

Parnassia fimbriata is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae known by the common name fringed grass of Parnassus. It was first described by Charles Konig. It is native to western North America from Alaska and northwestern Canada to the southern Rocky Mountains, where it is a plant of alpine and subalpine environments, usually in wet areas. Despite the common name, this is not a true grass.

<i>Rorippa palustris</i> Species of plant

Rorippa palustris, marsh yellow-cress, bog yellow-cress or common yellow-cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is widespread and native to parts of Africa, and much of Asia, Europe and Eurasia, North America and the Caribbean. It can also be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species and a common weed, for example, in Australia and South America. It is an adaptable plant which grows in many types of damp, wet, and aquatic habitat. It may be an annual, biennial, or perennial plant, and is variable in appearance as well.

<i>Cordyline stricta</i> Species of flowering plant

Cordyline stricta, known as the Slender Palm Lily, or Narrow-leaved Palm Lily is an evergreen Australian plant. A shrub to 5 metres tall found in wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest, usually on the coastal lowlands. From near Bilpin, New South Wales further north to Queensland. C. stricta has become naturalised in Victoria.

<i>Parnassia glauca</i> Species of plant

Parnassia glauca, also known as fen grass of Parnassus, is a flowering herb of the genus Parnassia.

<i>Parnassia grandifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Parnassia grandifolia, also known as bigleaf grass of Parnassus, is a flowering herbaceous plant of the family Celastraceae.

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Parnassia palustris". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  2. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. "Parnassia palustris". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. "Plants Profile — Parnassia palustris L., marsh grass of Parnassus". U.S. Department of Agriculture — Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  5. "Cumberland Flag". Flag Institute . Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  6. "Grass-of-Parnassus". Plantlife . Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  7. Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins , p. 258, at Google Books
  8. 1 2 3 4 Press, J. R.; Sutton, Dr D. A.; Tebbs, B. M. (1981). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Great Britain. London: The Reader's Digest. p. 155.
  9. 1 2 "Parnassia palustris L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  10. von F. A. v. Humboldt. "Beobachtungen über die Staubfäden der Parnaflia paluftris" Annalen der Botanick. / Herausgegeben von Dr. Paulus Usteri. Drittes Stück. 1792 vol.3, p.7 Accessed Dec 21, 2021