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 with onion odor, taste; bulb solitary or on rhizomes, reforming each year, divides at base into daughter bulbs, outer bulb coats generally brown or gray, cell sculpture generally important to identification, inner bulb coats generally white
Stem scapose, cylindric or flat
Leaves basal, 15, linear, cylindric, channeled, or flat, generally withering from tip before flower
Inflorescence: umbel; bracts generally 24, conspicuous, ± fused, scarious
Flower: perianth segments 6, in 2 petal-like whorls; stamens 6, epipetalous, filaments wide at base, fused into a ring; ovary superior, sometimes with 3 or 6 crests, chambers 3, ovules generally 2 per chamber, style 1, stigma entire or 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seed obovoid, black, sculpture net-like, smooth, or granular
Species in genus: 500 species: worldwide, especially CA
Etymology: (Latin: garlic)
Native |
Bulb 12 cm, ovoid; outer coats often many, thickly surrounding bulb, yellow-brown, sculpture ± square, walls obscurely wavy
Stem 1035 cm
Leaves 2, 0.72 X stem, ± cylindric or flat
Inflorescence: flowers 545; pedicels 525 mm
Flower 49 mm; perianth parts oblanceolate to narrowly ovate, entire, white or pale pink, midveins darker; ovary crests 3, minute, 2-lobed, central, crests and upper ovary densely papillate
Ecology: Common. Dry, open hillsides
Elevation: 502100 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, South Coast, n Channel Islands, Western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, East of Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert.
Native |
Inflorescence dense; bracts 2; flowers 1045; pedicels 1015 mm
Flower 57 mm
Chromosomes: n=7
Ecology: Uncommon. Open sandy slopes
Elevation: 7001300 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, w Mojave Desert.