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chocolate-lily, mission bells

Greenhorn fritillary

Bulb scales

large 2–8; small 0–4.

large 8–12; small 60–200 or more.

Stem

1–4.5 dm.

4–10 dm.

Leaves

3–7, alternate, often ± crowded just above ground level, 5–19 cm;

blade linear or oblong to narrowly ovate.

in 1–2 whorls of 4–8 leaves per node proximally, alternate distally, 4–11 cm;

blade lanceolate.

Flowers

nodding, odorless or sometimes with unpleasant odor;

tepals dark brown to greenish purple or yellowish green, narrowly ovoid, 1.8–4 cm, apex not recurved;

nectaries prominent, purplish to greenish, narrowly linear, forming narrow band 2/3 to equaling tepal length;

style obviously branched for 1/2–2/3 its length, branches longer than 1.5 mm.

nodding;

tepals pinkish to purplish, oblong-lanceolate, 1.2–2 cm;

nectaries green with reddish margins, lanceolate, 1/3 tepal length;

style unbranched.

Capsules

angled.

winged.

2n

= 24.

Fritillaria biflora

Fritillaria brandegeei

Phenology Flowering Apr.
Habitat Granitic soils, open forests
Elevation 1500–2100 m (4900–6900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

This species is sometimes confused with Fritillaria agrestis, which grows in heavier soil and has flowers with an unpleasant odor. Fritillaria roderickii is still recognized by some botanists, but it appears to be little more than a localized flower-color variant of F. biflora var. biflora, and is valued by horticulturists for this reason.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Of conservation concern.

This species is rare and under pressure from cattle grazing.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Leaf blade widely lanceolate to oblanceolate.
var. biflora
1. Leaf blade linear to narrowly lanceolate.
var. ineziana
Source FNA vol. 26, p. 168. FNA vol. 26, p. 168.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Fritillaria Liliaceae > Fritillaria
Sibling taxa
F. affinis, F. agrestis, F. atropurpurea, F. brandegeei, F. camschatcensis, F. eastwoodiae, F. falcata, F. gentneri, F. glauca, F. liliacea, F. micrantha, F. ojaiensis, F. pinetorum, F. pluriflora, F. pudica, F. purdyi, F. recurva, F. striata, F. viridea
F. affinis, F. agrestis, F. atropurpurea, F. biflora, F. camschatcensis, F. eastwoodiae, F. falcata, F. gentneri, F. glauca, F. liliacea, F. micrantha, F. ojaiensis, F. pinetorum, F. pluriflora, F. pudica, F. purdyi, F. recurva, F. striata, F. viridea
Subordinate taxa
F. biflora var. biflora, F. biflora var. ineziana
Name authority Lindley: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 20: under plate 1663. (1834) Eastwood: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 30: 484. (1903)
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