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Key to families | Table of families and genera

This text currently parallels The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition that is now available at the University of California Press.

Text appearing in blue on this page will not appear in the printed book; it will be displayed only on the Web. Specimen numbers are hyperlinked to records in the Consortium of California Herbaria data view where possible. Taxa are hyperlinked to entries in the Jepson Interchange via the "[Online Interchange]" link.

 

MELANTHIACEAE FALSE-HELLEBORE FAMILY

Dale W. McNeal, except as noted


Perennial, from rhizome or bulb, or rhizomes ending in weakly developed bulbs, scapose or not.
Leaf: alternate, whorled, or mostly basal and spirally arranged, deciduous after 1 yr or not.
Inflorescence: raceme, panicle, or flowers 1.
Flower: perianth parts 6, in 2 petal-like whorls or of sepals and petals, free or fused below, ± spreading; stamens 6, from perianth, anthers attached at base or near middle; ovary superior or partly inferior, chambers 3, styles 3, persistent.
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal or septicidal.
10 genera, 130 species: n hemisphere. W North America Zigadenus moved to Toxicoscordion. —Scientific Editors: Dale W. McNeal, Thomas J. Rosatti.

Key to Melanthiaceae

1. Lvs linear

2. Lvs persistent after 1 yr, wiry, tough; cauline leaves many, reduced upward ..... XEROPHYLLUM

2' Lvs deciduous after 1 yr, not wiry, not tough; cauline leaves 0 or 1–2, much reduced

3. Perianth parts pale green-yellow to ± purple, without glands; ovary partly inferior (at base) ..... STENANTHIUM

3' Perianth parts white to ± yellow, with 1–2 distinct glands near base; ovary superior ..... TOXICOSCORDION

1' Lvs lanceolate to widely ovate

4. Lvs > 3, alternate; plant 1–2 m ..... VERATRUM

4' Lvs 3, in 1 whorl subtending flower; plant < 0.7 m

5. Lvs petioled (subsessile), leathery; petals white (pink), generally purple-spotted ..... PSEUDOTRILLIUM

5' Lvs sessile or subsessile, not leathery; petals white, ± pink, ± yellow, or purple, not spotted ..... TRILLIUM

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Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].
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