| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©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, ± dioecious; rhizome generally with fleshy tubers
Stem erect to ± climbing, much-branched; branchlets flat or thread-like, functioning as leaves
Leaves scale-like, papery, generally with a spiny spur at base
Inflorescence: raceme or umbel; pedicels slender, jointed
Flower small, white to greenish yellow; perianth segments 6 in 2 petal-like whorls, free or ± fused; stamens 6, epipetalous, ± = perianth; ovary superior, chambers 3, style 1, short, slender, stigmas 3
Fruit: berry, spheric
Seeds 1–6, black
Species in genus: ± 300 species: especially n temp
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
| Introduced |
Rhizome thick, matted, tubers 0
Stem 1–3 m, erect; branchlets thread-like; young stems simple, stout, edible
Inflorescence: pedicels 1–2 cm, thread-like, jointed near middle
Flower 3–7 mm, drooping, bell-shaped, greenish white
Fruit 6–8 mm, red
Chromosomes: n=10
Ecology: Disturbed places, roadsides, fields
Elevation: generally < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Cult for food. Naturalized populations scattered.