| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
|
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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.
Perennial; rhizome short, thick, horizontal to erect
Stem erect, 1 or more per plant
Leaves 3 in a single whorl, subtending flower, ± ovate
Flower bisexual, 1 per stem, erect to nodding; sepals 3, free, persistent, greenish; petals 3, free, withering, white, pinkish, yellowish, or purple; stamens 6; ovary chambers 3, styles 3
Fruit: capsule, berry-like
Seeds many, ovoid
Species in genus: ± 30–40 species: North America, Asia
Etymology: (Latin: three, from leaves)
Reference: [Freeman 1975 Brittonia 27:1–62]
| Native |
Stem 2–7 dm
Leaf sessile, 7–20 cm, rounded to obtuse, generally ± brown-spotted
Flower generally with a sweet rose-like or ± spicy scent; sepals 3–8 cm, lanceolate; petals 4–11 cm, oblanceolate to obovate, white to pinkish, sometimes purplish near base; stamens 14–31 mm, tissue between anther sacs greenish; ovary greenish or rarely purplish
Chromosomes: n=5
Ecology: Common. Edges of redwood or mixed-evergreen forest, coastal scrub and chaparral, moist canyon slopes, ravine banks
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, n Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to Washington