Grass of Parnassus

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Grass of Parnassus
Parnassia palustris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Celastrales Family: Parnassiaceae Genus: Parnassia
Species
P. asarifolia P. cabulica P. caroliniana P. californica P. cirrata P. fimbriata P. glauca P. grandifolia P. kotzebuei P. palustris

Grass of Parnassus is the English name for the genus Parnassia, also known as Bog-stars. Parnassia is considered by many authors the only genus in the family Parnassiaceae, while others also include the small genus Lepuropetalon. The plants occur in arctic and alpine habitats, as well as in dune systems and bogs, swamps, moist woods, and across the Northern Hemisphere.

This plant is actually not a grass, but a flower. The stock of the plant can reach up to 8 inches, the leaves up to 4 inches and the petals can be up to 1.4 inches wide. The flower has 5 white petals, each with light green vain-like lines on them. In the center, are five three-pronged sterile stamens, each tipped with shiny, drop-like, false nectarines, which (along with the green lines) seem to lead flies and bees to the nectar in the very center of the flower. This flower blooms in late summer, around July, and into late fall.

Parnassus flowers are the symbol of the clan MacLea, also known as the highland Livingstone clan, which is said to be because they were the favorite flower of St Moluag, the Irish missionary whose staff the clan chiefs hold.

[edit] Other uses

Grass of Parnassus is the title of a book of poetry by Andrew Lang.