# fen grass of Parnassus (*Parnassia glauca*) Fen grass of Parnassus is a lovely plant with white flowers that bloom in the summer. It grows in wet places and is a special sight in nature, often found near marshes and ponds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![fen grass of Parnassus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/P_glauca.JPG&width=800) Photo: André-Philippe Drapeau Picard, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:P_glauca.JPG) ## Appearance The fen grass of Parnassus has bright white, cup-shaped flowers, each with five petals that display delicate green veins. A single flower grows atop a slender, leafless stem, often appearing to float like a star against its green marshy backdrop. Its unique fringed green staminodes make it distinctive. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Celastrales - **Family:** Parnassiaceae - **Genus:** Parnassia ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it’s not a true grass, but a beautiful flowering herb! - Its name 'Parnassia' comes from Mount Parnassus in Greece, a home of the Muses. - Some people call it 'Bog Stars' because its flowers shine brightly in wet, marshy lands. - The tiny green fringes on its flower petals look like miniature eyelashes! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Guides:** Fen grass of Parnassus has prominent green veins on its white petals that act like landing strips, guiding tiny insects to its sweet nectar! - **Deceptive Decoration:** Fen grass of Parnassus has five fringed, comb-like false stamens (staminodes) that may trick insects into visiting for pollen or nectar. - **Staggered Maturation:** Fen grass of Parnassus can prevent self-pollination by maturing its male parts before its female parts, encouraging cross-pollination. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-45 cm - **Spread:** 10-25 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — may browse foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fen grass of Parnassus? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fen grass of Parnassus? 15-45 cm ### How wide does fen grass of Parnassus spread? 10-25 cm ### How big are the flowers on fen grass of Parnassus? 2-3 cm ### When does fen grass of Parnassus bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is fen grass of Parnassus edible? No ### Is fen grass of Parnassus toxic? None ### What is fen grass of Parnassus's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Hudson Falls Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hudson-falls-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Presqu'ile Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presquile-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park [View all places to see fen grass of Parnassus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fen-grass-of-parnassus) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [fen grass of Parnassus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fen-grass-of-parnassus)