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.
Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: western beauty)
Native |
Perennial; bulb 46 cm, ovoid, deep
Stem 30180 cm, generally simple, ± scapose
Leaves mostly basal (cauline reduced), 2050 cm, 815 mm wide, blue-green; margins wavy, white
Inflorescence: raceme; bracts conspicuous, ± ovate, papery; pedicels ± 1 cm
Flower jointed to pedicel, 4.56 cm, funnel-shaped; perianth parts 6, fused below, petal-like, white with silver-green midstripe, lobes 34 cm, ± oblanceolate, spreading; stamens 6, attached to perianth; ovary superior, chambers 3, style slender, stigma slightly 3-lobed
Fruit: capsule, 1216 mm, 3-lobed, loculicidal
Seed ± 5 mm, flat, black
Chromosomes: n=24
Ecology: Sandy flats
Elevation: < 800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: w Arizona
Flowering time: MarMay
Horticultural information: sand, DRN, SUN: 12, 13; DFCLT.