| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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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; rhizome short, thick, horizontal to erect
Stem erect, 1 or more per plant
Leaves 3 in a single whorl, subtending flower, ± ovate
Flower bisexual, 1 per stem, erect to nodding; sepals 3, free, persistent, greenish; petals 3, free, withering, white, pinkish, yellowish, or purple; stamens 6; ovary chambers 3, styles 3
Fruit: capsule, berry-like
Seeds many, ovoid
Species in genus: ± 30–40 species: North America, Asia
Etymology: (Latin: three, from leaves)
Reference: [Freeman 1975 Brittonia 27:1–62]
| Native |
Stem 2–7 dm
Leaf sessile, 7–21 cm, rounded to obtuse, generally ± brown-spotted
Flower generally with a sweet rose-like or ± spicy scent; sepals 3–7 cm, lanceolate; petals 5–11 cm, linear-oblanceolate to obovate, yellow to dark purple (sometimes white); stamens 15–35 mm, tissue between anther sacs purple; ovary purple
Chromosomes: n=5
Ecology: Edges of redwood forests and chaparral, generally on moist slopes and canyon banks in alluvial soils
Elevation: 100–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area
Synonyms: var. giganteum (Hook. & Arn.) Munz
Highly variable; a population may contain all color variants.