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.

ERYTHRONIUM

FAWN LILY

Geraldine A. Allen

Perennial from elongate bulb of 1 fleshy scale, generally with small, bead-like segments of persistent rhizome
Leaves 2 (1 in non-flower plant), basal, 6–35 cm, lanceolate to ovate (solitary basal leaf wider), narrowed to petiole, glabrous; margin entire to wavy
Inflorescence: raceme; flowers 1–10; bracts 0
Flower showy, nodding; perianth segments 6, similar, free, ± lanceolate, ± strongly recurved; stamens 6; style 1, stigma entire to 3-lobed
Fruit ovoid to oblong
Seed ± ovoid, ± angular, brown
Chromosomes: n=12
Species in genus: ± 25 species: especially temp North America
Etymology: (Greek: red, from flowers of some)
Reference: [Applegate 1935 Madroño 3:58–113; Shevock et al. 1990 Madroño 37:261–273]
Attractive in woodland gardens. Pressed specimens fade, so leaf and flower markings should be recorded fresh.