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red bells, scarlet fritillary

Bulb scales

large 6; small 20–30.

Stem

3–9 dm.

Leaves

in 1–3 whorls of 2–5 leaves per node proximally, alternate distally, 3–15 cm;

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate.

Flowers

nodding;

perianth slender;

tepals scarlet, checkered with yellow adaxially and purple abaxially, 1.5–3.7 cm, apex usually strongly recurved;

nectaries yellow, narrowly lanceolate, 1/4 tepal length or less;

style obviously branched for 1/4–1/2 its length, branches ± erect, longer than 1.5 mm.

Capsules

winged.

2n

= 24, 36.

Fritillaria recurva

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jun.
Habitat Dry hillsides in shrubland or woodlands
Elevation 300–2200 m (1000–7200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Variety coccinea has been recognized by a number of authors, but examination of numerous specimens indicates no consistent distinction. In some cases, different plants from the same population appear to align with different varieties.

The Shasta and Yana tribes used Fritillaria recurva bulbs as food.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 171.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Fritillaria
Sibling taxa
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. striata, F. viridea
Synonyms F. recurva var. coccinea
Name authority Bentham: Pl. Hartw., 340. (1857)
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