| 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.
Perennial, coarse, leafy; rhizome thick
Stem erect, 1–2 m, simple, hollow
Leaves many, alternate, lanceolate to widely ovate, generally acute, clasping, coarsely veined, reduced upward
Inflorescence: panicle; flowers many
Flower bisexual or staminate; perianth parts 6, petal-like, free, widely spreading, white or greenish to red-brown, nectary glands 1–2 near base; stamens 6, attached to perianth; ovary slightly inferior, chambers 3, styles 3, short, stigmas long
Fruit: capsule, septicidal
Species in genus: ± 25 species: n temp
Etymology: (Latin: dark roots)
Alkaloids used medicinally and TOXIC to both livestock and humans .
| Native |
Leaves elliptic; lower 10–23 cm, hairy below and on sheaths
Inflorescence erect, generally 20–50 cm, grayish woolly; branches ascending; pedicels 6–15 mm
Flower 6–9 mm; perianth parts widely ovate, white to yellowish, hairy, outer irregularly ciliate, inner ± fringed, glands 2, elliptic, greenish; stamens ± = perianth; ovary woolly
Fruit 2–3 cm, oblong-ovoid, ± woolly
Seed 10–15 mm, widely winged
Chromosomes: n=16
Ecology: Openings in thickets and mixed-evergreen forest on red clay
Elevation: > 900 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Washington