Fringed Grass of Parnassus

Parnassia fimbriata

Fringed Grass of Parnassus is a beautiful flower with delicate, lacy petals. It grows in wet places and is often found near ponds and marshes, making it a lovely sight in nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Fringed Grass of Parnassus is a delicate wildflower featuring brilliant white, cup-shaped flowers. Each petal boasts distinctive green veins and a prominent, often yellow-tipped, fringed false stamen (staminode) at its base, making it visually unique.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCelastralesFamilyParnassiaceaeGenusParnassia

Fringed Grass of Parnassus

Interesting facts

Despite its name, this isn't a grass at all! It's a beautiful wildflower.

Its name Parnassia honors Mount Parnassus, a famous mountain in Greece.

Some small insects get a sweet reward for helping it make seeds.

The tiny fringes on its petals are called staminodes, not stamens!

Special abilities

Fringed Grass of Parnassus has unique fringed staminodes that mimic extra stamens, potentially luring more pollinators.

Fringed Grass of Parnassus can ripen its anthers one by one, ensuring cross-pollination by different visitors over time.

Fringed Grass of Parnassus can thrive in soggy, boggy soils thanks to special adaptations for low oxygen levels.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-40 cm
Spread: 5-15 cm
Flower Size: 1.5-2.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late summer to early fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Vancouver Bumblebee

Bombus vancouverensis

visits flowers for nectar and pollen

pollinates

Common Drone Fly

Syrphus ribesii

helps carry pollen between flowers

eaten by

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

deer might browse its leaves and flowers

Traits

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.