Lysimachia latifolia, sometimes called Trientalis latifolia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae.The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/tro-26400203Howell, John Thomas. "Marin Flora: Manual of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Marin County, California", University of California, Ltd. Copyright 1949, 1970, 1985. , pp 217Emery, Dara E. "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants", 6th edition (printed 2011). Copyright 1988 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. It is known as starflower,Parsons, Mary Elizabeth "The Wild Flowers of California", illustrated by Margaret Warriner Buck. Published by Cunningham, Curtiss & Welch, San Francisco 1912. Copyright William Doxey 1897, copyright Mary Elizabeth Parsons 1902, 1906. (no ISBN for this edition) chickweed-wintergreen, or Pacific starflower.
Description It is a low-growing, creeping perennialChittenden, Fred J., Synge, Patrick M., editors. 1977. "The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening", edn. 2, Oxford University Press. . Volume 4, pp. 2145-2146 reaching (). The roots are tuberous, creeping rhizomes. The stems are erect, high. It has 5 to 7 whorled, lanceolate, entire leaves distributed levelly in a single group.
The white or pink flowers are borne in April or May. The Calyx (the collective term for sepals) is 5- to 9-parted and persistent, and the corolla (the collective term for petals) is also 5- to 9-parted, rotate, with a very short tube and elliptic-lanceolate segments. Stamens occur in the same number as the corolla lobes (5–9) and are positioned opposite to them. 1-3 peduncles, 1-flowered, filiform, and ebracteate. The ovary is one-celled. The style (gynoecium) is filiform.
Habitat Occurs on moist, shaded slopes in deep, light soil rich in organic matter, particularly leaf mould.
Distribution Canada: Occurs in British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon.USDA Plants database Trientalis latifolia United States of America: Occurs throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and northern California.
Etymology The former genus name Trientalis is derived from the Latin ('a third'), and is an allusion to the height of the plant, which is one third of a foot, or high.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 231, 387 Latifolia is derived from the Latin words ('broad or wide') and ('leaves') and means approximately 'broad-leaved'.
The alternative name "Indian potato" refers to a small subterranean swelling at the stem's base, which is not listed as being edible by modern sources.
References
External links Jepson Manual Online Trientalis latifolia Hook.