I've found a company who sells seeds of D. meadia, and they have a detailed description of the genus which includes this: "Seventeen species of shooting star are native to North America, including one northern species that migrated across the Bering Strait and now grows in Siberia. They belong to the primrose family, whose genus name Dodecatheon means “twelve gods.” This refers to the ancient belief that twelve deities protected the primrose." http://everwilde.com/store/… A deity-protected Primula seems like the most likely possibility behind the name Dodecatheon. It's not a stretch to think of our own favorite flowers as holy and immaculate, lol. I'd still be interested in learning which species of Primula Pliny was referring to. Travis Owen Rogue River, OR http://www.amateuranthecologist.com/ http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/