LILIACEAE

LILY FAMILY

Dale W. McNeal, except as specified

Perennial to trees, from membranous bulb, fibrous corm, scaly rhizome, or erect caudex
Stem generally underground
Leaves generally basal, often withering early, alternate, generally ± linear
Inflorescence various, generally bracted
Flower generally bisexual, generally radial; perianth often showy, segments generally 6 in two petal-like whorls (outer sometimes sepal-like), free or fused at base; stamens 6 (or 3 + generally 3 ± petal-like staminodes), filaments sometimes attached to perianth or fused into a tube or crown; ovary superior or inferior, chambers 3, placentas generally axile, style generally 1, stigmas generally 3
Fruit: generally capsule, loculicidal or septicidal (berry or nut)
Genera in family: ± 300 genera, 4600 species: especially ± dry temp and subtropical; many cultivated for ornamental or food; some TOXIC. Here includes genera sometimes treated in Agavaceae, Amaryllidaceae, and other families.

ODONTOSTOMUM

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: tooth mouth, from staminodes)

Native

O. hartwegii Torr.

Perennial; corm 2.5–3 cm, ovoid, deep
Stem ± scapose, 12–50 cm, ± curved, generally branched
Leaves mostly basal, 10–30 cm, linear, sheathing; upper reduced
Inflorescence: panicle or raceme; bracts 3–10 mm, linear, scarious; pedicels 3–30 mm, with scarious bractlet above middle
Flower: perianth parts 6, fused below, petal-like, white to yellowish; tube 4–5 mm, strongly veined; lobes ± = tube, spreading (becoming reflexed), 3–5-veined; stamens 6, attached to perianth, filaments 1–2 mm, alternate 6 staminodes 0.5–1 mm, anthers dehiscing by pores at tip; ovary superior, chambers 3, style 4–5 mm, thread-like, stigma slightly 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seed obovoid, brown
Chromosomes: n=10
Ecology: Clay, often serpentine soils
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, n&c Sierra Nevada Foothills
Horticultural information: SUN, IRR until flowers. open, then DRY: 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17.