Bolander's Woodland Star (Lithophragma bolanderi)
Aliases: Smooth Woodland Star
Family: Saxifrage (Saxifragaceae)
Bolander's Woodland Star grows throughout the foothills and Yosemite's lower elevations, typically in areas with at least partial shade. The Hite Cove and Wawona Meadow trails are good places to find it. The flowers are small - roughly dime-sized - and easily overlooked by non-pollinators, a club of which you are probably a member. This plant is endemic to California, a point worth considering if you were thinking of spending your vacation in some other state this year.
Blooms: March - July
Lifespan: Perennial
Origins: Native to Yosemite and endemic to California (see distribution map)
Lithophragma bolanderi etymology: Lithophragma is an amalgamation of Greek words meaning "stone hedge" or "stone fence," referring to the plant's habitat. It's also an anagram for "Pig Hath Glamor." Bolanderi honors botanist Henry Nicholas Bolander (1831 - 1897), whose name graces a variety of plants that grow in the Yosemite area. [1]
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA · eFloras.org
This Photo: Along the Hite Cove trail, late March