JUNCAGINACEAE

ARROW-GRASS FAMILY

Robert F. Thorne

Annual or perennial herb from rhizomes, submersed or emergent, sometimes dioecious or plants with some unisexual flowers
Stem short, erect, ± scapose
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate, generally narrowly cylindric; sheath open, generally liguled
Inflorescence: spike or raceme (terminal) or flowers solitary in axils; bracts 0
Flower: perianth parts generally 6 in 2 whorls (except 0–1 in Lilaea ), free, greenish; stamens generally 1, 3, or 6, filament short, ± fused to inner perianth parts, anthers elongate, dehiscing outward; pistil 1 (simple) or seemingly so (ovaries 3, 4, or 6, fused to central axis, each with 1 chamber and 1 style), ovule 1 per chamber, style short and plumose or long and thread-like
Fruit: follicle or nutlet
Genera in family: 5 genera, ± 20 species: temp and circumboreal.

LILAEA

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (A. Raffeneau-Delile, French botanist, 1778–1850)

Native

L. scilloides (Poir.) Hauman

FLOWERING-QUILLWORT

Annual from fibrous roots, aquatic, generally emergent
Stem erect, short, obscure
Leaves basal, tufted, 5–20(45) cm, 1–5 mm wide; sheath 3–10 cm, translucent; blade tip acute to pointed
Inflorescence: bisexual and staminate flowers in erect, generally emergent spike, 6–20 cm; pistillate flowers solitary in submersed axils, enclosed by leaf sheaths
Bisexual flower: perianth part 1, 2–3 mm; stamen 1; ovary 1, chamber 1, ovule 1, style short
Staminate flower: perianth part 1, 2–3 mm; stamen 1
Pistillate flower: perianth 0; ovary 1, chamber 1, ovule 1, style 6–20 cm, thread-like, stigma floating
Fruit: nutlet, 2–10 mm, ribs 25–30; tip beaked
Chromosomes: 2n=12
Ecology: Vernal pools, ditches, streams, ponds, lake margins:
Elevation: < 1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Great Central Valley, Central Western California, South Coast, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to w Canada, Montana, Mexico, Chile; naturalized in Australia
Flowering time: Mar–Oct
Sometimes treated in Lilaeaceae
Horticultural information: WET, fresh water margins and mud; SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.