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red bells, scarlet fritillary

talus fritillary

Bulb scales

large 6; small 20–30.

large 2–4; small 8–32.

Stem

3–9 dm.

0.7–2 dm.

Leaves

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

blade linear to narrowly lanceolate.

2–6, alternate, ± fleshy near stem, 3.5–8.5 cm;

blade broadly linear, folded, sickle-shaped.

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.

erect;

tepals clearly mottled rusty brown and yellow adaxially, greenish abaxially, obovate, 1.5–2.2 cm, apex not recurved;

nectaries obscure, yellowish green, spotted brownish, broadly lanceolate to ± diamond-shaped, 1/2–2/3 tepal length;

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

Capsules

winged.

acutely angled.

2n

= 24, 36.

= 24.

Fritillaria recurva

Fritillaria falcata

Phenology Flowering Mar–Jun. Flowering Mar–Apr.
Habitat Dry hillsides in shrubland or woodlands Serpentine talus
Elevation 300–2200 m (1000–7200 ft) 300–1200 m (1000–3900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; NV; OR
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[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.)

Of conservation concern.

This is a rare, relatively restricted endemic found only in the San Francisco Bay region and slightly northward.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 171. FNA vol. 26, p. 169.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Fritillaria 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
F. affinis, F. agrestis, F. atropurpurea, F. biflora, F. brandegeei, F. camschatcensis, F. eastwoodiae, F. gentneri, F. glauca, F. liliacea, F. micrantha, F. ojaiensis, F. pinetorum, F. pluriflora, F. pudica, F. purdyi, F. recurva, F. striata, F. viridea
Synonyms F. recurva var. coccinea F. atropurpurea var. falcata
Name authority Bentham: Pl. Hartw., 340. (1857) (Jepson) D. E. Beetle: Madroño 7: 148. (1944)
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