Grass of Parnassus

Grass of Parnassus

Taxobox
name = Grass of Parnassus


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Parnassia palustris"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Celastrales
familia = Parnassiaceae
genus = "Parnassia"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = About 50 [cite web | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=20220 | work = Flora of Pakistan | title = Parnassiaceae ] –70 [cite web | title = Parnassia | url = http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=124074 | work = Flora of China ] , including:
* "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 herbaceous dicot. 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 vein-like lines on them. In the center, are five three-pronged sterile stamens, each tipped with shiny, drop-like, false nectaries, 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.

Other uses

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

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • grass of Parnassus — see under ↑Parnassus • • • Main Entry: ↑grass grass of Parnassus A white flowered plant of wet moors (Parnassia palustris), of the saxifrage family • • • Main Entry: ↑Parnassus …   Useful english dictionary

  • Grass of Parnassus — Grass Grass, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs; akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras, Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf. {Graze}.] 1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grass-of-Parnassus — n. Any of various usually evergreen bog plants of the genus {Parnassia} having broad smooth basal leaves and a single pale buttercuplike flower. Syn: parnassia, grass of Parnassus. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grass of Parnassus — Parnassus Par*nas sus, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?.] (Anc. Geog. & Gr. Myth.) A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring. [1913 Webster] {Grass of Parnassus}. (Bot.) See under… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grass of Parnassus —       (Parnassia), any of about 15 species of low perennial herbs, in the family Parnassiaceae, distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The plants grow in tufts and bear white, greenish white, or yellow flowers. Five sterile stamens… …   Universalium

  • grass-of-parnassus — grass of par·nas·sus …   English syllables

  • grass-of-Parnassus — noun any of various usually evergreen bog plants of the genus Parnassia having broad smooth basal leaves and a single pale flower resembling a buttercup • Syn: ↑parnassia • Hypernyms: ↑marsh plant, ↑bog plant, ↑swamp plant • Hyponyms: ↑bog star,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • grass-of-Parnassus — /gras euhv pahr nas euhs, grahs /, n. any plant belonging to the genus Parnassia, of the saxifrage family, growing in marshy areas, having broad, smooth leaves and a single, pale flower. * * * …   Universalium

  • grass of Parnassus — noun a northern plant of damp meadows, with a solitary white flower. [Parnassia palustris.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • grass of Parnassus — noun any of the genus Parnassia, family Saxifragaceae or Parnassiaceae, perennials of marshy areas, having broad, smooth leaves and single pale flowers …  

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