TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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.
Bulb coat generally membranous
Leaves generally linear to lanceolate; basal leaf 1; cauline leaves 0several, smaller upwards
Inflorescence often ± umbel-like; flowers 2many
Flower spheric and closed to nearly rotate; sepals generally < petals, generally ± lanceolate (ovate), generally nearly glabrous; petals generally widely wedge-shaped, generally hairy inside, nectary near base; filaments ± flat, anthers generally attached at base; style 1, stigmas 3
Fruit: capsule, septicidal, generally ± oblong, generally 3-angled or -winged; chambers 3
Seeds many in 2 rows per chamber, generally flat, generally netted, generally ± yellow
Species in genus: ± 65 species: w North America, C.Am; many cultivated. Bulbs of some eaten by native Americans. Nectary shape and hairs important to identification
Etymology: (Greek: beautiful grass)
Reference: [Ness 1989 Syst Bot 14:495505]
Sect. Calochortus by Bryan Ness.
Native |
Stem 315 cm, simple, slender
Leaves: basal, 1020 cm, persistent; cauline 0
Inflorescence: flowers 110, erect to spreading
Flower: perianth bell-shaped; sepals ± 10 mm; petals 812 mm, bluish, lanceolate, not ciliate near tip, sparsely hairy, nectary slightly depressed, bordered below by ciliate membranes, above by short hairs
Fruit nodding, 1015 mm, angled
Seed irregular
Ecology: Meadows, open woodlands
Elevation: ± 15002000 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Sierra Nevada Foothills (Greenhorn Mtns)
Synonyms: C. coeruleus var. w. (Eastw.) Ownbey