LILIACEAE

LILY FAMILY

Dale W. McNeal, except as specified

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.

FRITILLARIA

FRITILLARY

Bryan D. Ness

Perennial; bulb with 1–several large fleshy scales, 0–many small scales
Stem erect, simple (0 in non-flower plants)
Leaves alternate (or whorled below), sessile, linear to ± ovate (1 "bulb-leaf" in non-flower plants)
Inflorescence: raceme; bracts leaf-like
Flower generally nodding, bell- or cup-shaped; perianth segments 6, of 2 similar whorls; nectaries 6, on perianth parts; stamens 6, included, inserted at perianth base, anthers attached ± near middle; ovary ± sessile, style 1, entire or 3-branched
Fruit: capsule, loculicidal, thin walled, ± rounded, 6-angled, or winged, chambers 3
Seeds many, 2 rows per chamber, flat, brownish
Species in genus: ± 100 species: n temp
Etymology: (Latin: dicebox, from fruit shape)
Reference: [Turrill & Sealy 1980 Hooker's Icones Plantarum 34:1–275]
Bulbs of some eaten by Indians of North America
Horticultural information: DRN: for pots or rock gardens; DRY when dormant. Most are very DFCLT.

Native

F. affinis (Schult. & Schult. f.) Sealy

CHECKER LILY

Bulb; large scales 2–5; small scales 2–20
Stem 1–12 dm
Leaves in 1–4 whorls of 2–8 below, alternate above, 4–16 cm, linear-lanceolate to ovate
Flower nodding; perianth parts 1–4 cm, oblong to ovate, brownish purple mottled yellow to pale yellowish green mottled purple; nectary 1/2–2/3 perianth length, lanceolate, yellow with purple dots; style divided 1/2
Fruit widely winged
Chromosomes: 2n=24,36,48
Ecology: Common. Oak or pine scrub, grasslands
Elevation: < 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, n Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho
Synonyms: F. lanceolata Pursh (illegitimate name); F. phaeanthera Purdy
Highly variable; needs further study; hybridizes with F. recurva.

Native

var. tristulis (A.L. Grant) Ness ined.

Bulb with 60–100+ small scales
Flower: perianth parts scarcely mottled
Ecology: Very uncommon. Coastal grassland
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Central Coast (w Marin Co.).