Mar 17, 2012
One of the earliest spring wildflowers to appear in the oak woodlands of Northern California is the Henderson's Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii), sometimes known as "mosquito bills". This pink/lavendar flower has swept back petals and forward-pointed stamens. The almost prostrate, elliptical green leaves are common place in the cool semi-shady slopes of oak woodlands... many times growing on slopes covered with mosses. These basal rosettes of leaves dry up by summer.
This plant is rather common here at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center and is a great reminder that spring is on its way.
