Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
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  • Midland Shooting Star

    SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dodecatheon meadia (Primula meadia)


    COMMON NAMES: Midland Shooting-star, Eastern Shooting Star, Shooting Star, Pride of Ohio, Roosterheads, Prairie Pointers

    BLOOM TIME: Apr, May, June

    PLANT PROFILE:

    • Leaves at base are 8 in. x 3 in. & flower stalk up to 2 ft. tall.
    • Stalks bend over causing flower to droop. 
    • Petals bend back resembling tail of a shooting star.
    • Flowers smell like grape juice & range in color from white Located in woods, prairies & shade.
    • Common in Illinois.
    • Early pioneers called them “prairie pointers”.

    INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:

    • Queen bumblebees are the most typical visitors of flowers. They obtain pollen from the flowers by the rapid vibration of their thoracic muscles, which is sometimes called "buzz pollination".
    • All of insects collect only pollen, as the flowers offer no nectar reward.