Aletris
colic-root, stargrass
in dense basal rosettes, clasping erect branches;
blade narrowly linear to lanceolate, oblanceolate, linear-elliptic, or elliptic, flat, leathery, distal margins fused to form subulate tips.
2–10 dm.
racemose.
each subtended by 2 subulate, unequal bracts, short-pedicellate;
perianth white, yellow, or golden orange, cylindrical, campanulate, or obovoid, abaxial surfaces rough;
tepals 6, connate basally;
stamens 6, included;
filaments adnate to perianth;
anthers oblong-lanceolate, longer than filaments;
ovary half inferior with proximal portions of perianth adnate at maturity;
style 3-branched at apex.
capsular, 3-locular, beaked.
amber, deeply sulcate, ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.5–0.8 mm, lustrous.
Aletris
Species ca. 25 (5 in the flora).
Some species of Aletris (e.g., A. lutea and A. obovata) are quickly eliminated unless habitats are occasionally burned or otherwise kept clear of undergrowth.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Perianth usually wholly yellow to golden yellow, rarely white. | → 2 |
1. Perianth white to creamy white, lobes sometimes tipped with orange or pinkish orange. | → 3 |
2. Perianth cylindrical, 9–12 mm, more than 2.5 times as long as broad, lobes spreading. | A. lutea |
2. Perianth campanulate, 6–7 mm, 2 times or less as long as broad, lobes erect. | A. aurea |
3. Perianth campanulate or obovoid, lobes turned slightly inward. | A. obovata |
3. Perianth cylindrical, lobes spreading. | → 4 |
4. Leaves dull grayish green, 0.6–1 cm wide; beaks of fruits gradually tapering from body to tip. | A. bracteata |
4. Leaves bright yellowish green, 0.5–2.6 cm wide; beaks of fruits abruptly narrowed distally. | A. farinosa |
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
