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Taxon  Report  
Parnassia palustris  L.
Marsh grass of parnassus
Parnassia palustris is a perennial herb that is native to California, and found only slightly beyond California borders.
also called Parnassia californica
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
bloom graphic
Bloom Period
Genus: Parnassia
Family: Parnassiaceae  
(Saxifragaceae)
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Ultramafic affinity: 2 - weak indicator

Habitat: meadows

Communities: Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Foothill Woodland, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS
Alternate Names:
JEFParnassia californica
JEFParnassia palustris var. californica
JEFParnassia palustris var. montanensis
JEFParnassia palustris var. neogaea
Information about  Parnassia palustris from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (PAPA8)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2023. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 06/05/2023).