The genus Parnassia, also known as grass of Parnassus or bog-stars, are flowering 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 , the leaves up to and the petals can be up to wide. The flower has five white petals with light green venation. There are five stamens alternating with 5 much divided staminodes tipped with drop-like false nectaries which (along with the visual cue of veins) attract pollinating flies and bees.
Some species are often found in wet calcareous habitats with low fertility, low canopy cover, and high plant diversity. Parnassia glauca is considered to be an indicator species of fens in New York State. Such habitats are often becoming rare, and so species of Parnassia may have high conservation value. For example Parnassia palustris is threatened and legally protected in Michigan while Parnassia caroliniana is considered imperiled in North Carolina.
Culture
Parnassus flowers are the symbol of the Clan MacLea, also known as the highland Livingstone clan, and said to be the favorite flower of St. Moluag, the Irish missionary whose staff the clan chiefs hold. Three Grass of Parnassus flowers appear on the Flag of Cumberland, a British county, since that flower grows on Cumberland's lofty fells.
Species 55 species are accepted.
Parnassia alpicola Parnassia amoena Parnassia asarifolia Parnassia bifolia Parnassia cabulica Parnassia cacuminum Parnassia caroliniana Parnassia chinensis Parnassia cirrata Parnassia cooperi Parnassia crassifolia Parnassia davidii Parnassia delavayi Parnassia epunctulata Parnassia esquirolii Parnassia faberi Parnassia farreri Parnassia filchneri Parnassia fimbriata Parnassia foliosa Parnassia gansuensis Parnassia glauca Parnassia grandifolia Parnassia guilinensis Parnassia kotzebuei Parnassia kumaonica Parnassia labiata Parnassia laxmannii Parnassia longipetala Parnassia lutea Parnassia monochorifolia Parnassia mysorensis Parnassia noemiae Parnassia nubicola Parnassia obovata Parnassia omeiensis Parnassia oreophila Parnassia palustris (syn. Parnassia californica ) Parnassia parviflora Parnassia perciliata Parnassia procul Parnassia pseudoalpicola Parnassia pusilla Parnassia rhombipetala Parnassia scaposa Parnassia simianshanensis Parnassia submysorensis Parnassia tenella Parnassia townsendii Parnassia trinervis Parnassia wightiana Parnassia xinganensis Parnassia yui Parnassia yunnanensis Parnassia zhengyuana
References
External links
Parnassia entry at USDA PLANTS database