| 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.
Annual or perennial herb from rhizomes
Leaves basal, spiral, linear
Inflorescence: raceme or panicle, dense; bracts persistent, narrowly lanceolate, scarious; pedicels jointed
Flower small; perianth parts 6, ± free, in 2 petal-like whorls, white or pinkish; stamens 6, filaments wider at base; ovary superior, chambers 3, stigma head-like, slightly 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal
Seeds 6, black
Species in genus: 12 species: s Eur
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name)
| Introduced |
Annual or short-lived perennial herb; roots many from ± tuber-like stem bases
Stem 15–70 cm, branched, hollow
Leaves many, 10–30 cm, ± 4 mm diam, subcylindric, hollow; bases wide, membranous
Inflorescence: panicle, open
Flower 5–12 mm; perianth parts oblong, obtuse; stamens included, of 2 lengths, longest = style
Fruit 5–7 mm, ± spheric
Seeds 3–4 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=28,56
Ecology: Disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 50 m.
Bioregional distribution: s San Joaquin Valley, South Coast (expected elsewhere)
Distribution outside California: native to s Europe
Weedy.