APPEARANCE
Large lance shaped basal leaves (leaves close to the ground) surround the skinny stalk which holds the small one inch star shaped white flower.
RANGE & HABITAT
These flowers like the shaded habitat of the forest floor the most, but are also seen along rivers and streams which are thick with brush. Their northern limit is the Yukon and can be seen as far south as California. Their boundary to the east are the Cascade Mountains in Washington.
LIFE CYCLE
The Queen’s cup beautiful star shaped white flowers appear during late May to July. After the blooming period a single blue berry appears on top of the slender stalk which are poisonous to humans
ANIMAL USES
Ruffed grouse love to munch on the berries of this plant when they are ripe in the fall. However, the blue berries should not be eaten because they are considered poisonous to humans.
TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The blue berries are crushed and used by the Lower Nlaka’pmx as a blue dye. The leaves are used by the Lil’wet’ul and the Okanagan for eye infections and to stop bleeding.
OTHER USES
This small beautiful flower is often seen in many gardens and botanical gardens.
STATUS
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow
MORE INFORMATION
Photo: Brent Miller
More Southern Interior Mountains species
