While hiking on Mount Charleston near Las Vegas, Nevada, I came across this neat wildflower. This species ranges from northeast Oregon to the southern Cascades and Sierras and east to Utah and Arizona.
This plant is a showy member of the Primrose Family. It is usually seen in in moist meadows and along streams at high elevations in mountains. It can best be described as locally common.
The flower of Alpine Shooting Star resembles the shape of a rocket and its plume of exhaust. The “plume” of the petals reveals a fantastic transition of colors from near-black to yellow, white, and finally a lavender-pink.
Each flower points downwards and a single, elongated stigma protrudes from the blossom, the “nose” of the rocket. Its is held firmly by four black anthers between the petals and the stigma.
This plant is of special value to Bumble Bees and requires their ability to buzz-pollinate for successful reproduction. Buzz-pollination is a technique used to release pollen which is firmly held by the flower.