| 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.
Bulb coat generally membranous
Leaves generally linear to lanceolate; basal leaf 1; cauline leaves 0–several, smaller upwards
Inflorescence often ± umbel-like; flowers 2–many
Flower spheric and closed to nearly rotate; sepals generally < petals, generally ± lanceolate (ovate), generally nearly glabrous; petals generally widely wedge-shaped, generally hairy inside, nectary near base; filaments ± flat, anthers generally attached at base; style 1, stigmas 3
Fruit: capsule, septicidal, generally ± oblong, generally 3-angled or -winged; chambers 3
Seeds many in 2 rows per chamber, generally flat, generally netted, generally ± yellow
Species in genus: ± 65 species: w North America, C.Am; many cultivated. Bulbs of some eaten by native Americans. Nectary shape and hairs important to identification
Etymology: (Greek: beautiful grass)
Reference: [Ness 1989 Syst Bot 14:495–505]
Sect. Calochortus by Bryan Ness.
| Native |
Stem 10–30 cm, generally simple; base bulblet-bearing
Leaves: basal 20–30 cm, persistent; cauline 1–2
Inflorescence: flowers 1–4, erect
Flower: perianth bell-shaped; sepals 15–20 mm; petals 20–30 mm, pink to lavender, with central red-purple crescent, not ciliate, sparsely long-hairy, nectary bordered below by ciliate membrane, above by short hairs; anther 1/2 filament length
Fruit erect, 20–25 mm, sometimes spheric, winged
Seed irregular, light brown
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Vernal meadows, heavy clay soil
Elevation: 1200–1900 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to south-central Washington
Threatened by grazing. Var. peckii Ownbey in c OR.