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black lily, Indian rice, Kamchatka fritillary, northern rice-root, rice-root fritillary

San Benito fritillary

Bulb scales

large 6–15; small 30–190.

large 3–5; small 0–4.

Stem

2–6 dm.

3–6.5 dm.

Leaves

in 1–3 whorls of 5–9 leaves per node proximally, alternate distally, 4–10 cm, usually shorter than inflorescence;

blade narrowly to broadly lanceolate;

distal leaves usually ± equaling proximalmost leaf.

in 1–2 whorls of 3–4 leaves per node proximally, alternate distally, 4–10 cm, usually shorter than inflorescence;

blade narrowly lanceolate;

distal leaves usually ± equaling proximalmost leaf.

Flowers

spreading to nodding, odor unpleasant;

tepals dark greenish brown to brownish purple, sometimes streaked or spotted with yellow, oblong-elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 2–3 cm, apex not recurved;

nectaries obscure, same color as tepals, linear, ± equaling tepal length;

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

nodding;

tepals pale green to almost black, not mottled, lanceolate, 0.9–1.8 cm, apex not recurved;

nectaries green, lanceolate, ca. 1/2 tepal length;

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

Capsules

cylindric-ovoid.

winged.

2n

= 24, 36.

Fritillaria camschatcensis

Fritillaria viridea

Phenology Flowering May–Jul. Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat Moist areas from near tideflats to mountain meadows Serpentine slopes
Elevation 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft) 200–1500 m (700–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; OR; WA; BC; Asia (Japan, Russia)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Coastal Native Americans used bulbs of this species for food. Often the bulbs were dried and later added to other foods, especially soups and fish dishes.

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

Fritillaria viridea is considered rare and endangered in California. It is closely related to F. affinis and considered synonymous with it by some authors.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 168. FNA vol. 26, p. 171.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Fritillaria Liliaceae > Fritillaria
Sibling taxa
F. affinis, F. agrestis, F. atropurpurea, F. biflora, F. brandegeei, 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. 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
Synonyms Lilium camschatcense
Name authority (Linnaeus) Ker Gawler: Bot. Mag. 30: under plate 1216. (1809) Kellogg: Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2: 9. (1863)
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