Summervine
Striga pes
Stellaceae (the Star family)
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Description
An evergreen with persistent leaves that last multiple seasons. Heart-shaped leaves with downy undersides and serrated margins.
Papery bracts surround insignificant true flowers, colored twilight blue. Blooms only in leap years.
Habitat
Colonizes disturbed ground, often the first to return after fire.
Traditional Uses
Traditionally used as a sleep aid, with dried leaves placed under pillows.
Folklore
Believed to mark the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds.
Similar Species
Related to Sunsnow.
Conservation
Possibly extinct in the wild - surviving only in botanical gardens.
Field Notes
Sometimes forms fairy rings in undisturbed locations.