Fritillaria biflora
Fritillaria liliacea
chocolate-lily, mission bells
fragrant fritillary
large 2–8; small 0–4.
large 2–7; small 1–2.
1–4.5 dm.
1–3.5 dm.
3–7, alternate, often ± crowded just above ground level, 5–19 cm;
blade linear or oblong to narrowly ovate.
2–20, alternate, 3.5–12 cm;
blade linear to ovate.
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, odorless or faintly fragrant;
tepals white, striped green, 1–1.6 cm, apex not recurved;
nectaries obscure, purplish to greenish, narrowly linear, forming narrow band 1/2–2/3 tepal length;
style obviously branched for 1/2 its length, branches longer than 1.5 mm.
angled.
obtusely angled.
= 24.
Fritillaria biflora
Fritillaria liliacea
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.
Fritillaria liliacea is sometimes confused with F. agrestis, which has flowers with an unpleasant odor. This species is in cultivation, and is considered rare and endangered in California.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaf blade widely lanceolate to oblanceolate. | var. biflora |
1. Leaf blade linear to narrowly lanceolate. | var. ineziana |
CA
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
