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 creeping
Stem erect, scaly below, leafy above
Leaves alternate, > 5
Inflorescence: panicle or raceme, terminal
Flower small; perianth parts 6, petal-like, white; stamens 6, attached to perianth; ovary superior, chambers 3, style 1, stigma ± 3-lobed
Fruit: berry
Seeds 13
Species in genus: ± 25 species: n temp
Etymology: (Greek: little smilax)
CA species sometimes considered part of Maianthemum.
Native |
Rhizome slender
Stem 3070 cm, straight or ± zigzag above, glabrous to puberulent
Leaf 517 cm, (ob)lanceolate to elliptic, acuminate, puberulent below, sessile, clasping
Inflorescence: raceme (rarely branched at lowest node), generally 28 cm; flowers 515
Flower 46 mm; perianth parts oblong to lanceolate, spreading; stamens < perianth
Fruit 710 mm, spheric, reddish purple to black
Seed brown
Chromosomes: n=18
Ecology: Moist woodlands, streambanks, open slopes
Elevation: < 2400 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, White and Inyo Mountains
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, eastern N.America
Flowering time: AprJun
Synonyms: var. sessilifolia (Baker) L.F. Hend
Horticultural information: DRN: 4 &IRR: 1, 2, 5, 6 &SHD: 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.