Schoenocaulon texanum
Schoenocaulon dubium
Texas feathershank
Florida feathershank
ellipsoid to plumply ovoid, 2–4.5 × 1.2–4 cm diam., usually arranged either in a circle or semicircle around a common rhizome, or one above the other on a vertical rhizome.
ellipsoid to ovoid, 2–4.2 × 1.2–3.5 cm diam.;
rhizome generally unnoticeable.
5–8, 15–60 cm × 2–6 mm, shorter than raceme to just surpassing it, rarely longer.
4–7, 14–75 cm × 1.5–3.5 mm, shorter than raceme.
13.5–55 cm.
55–87 cm.
condensed, 30–250-flowered, 4–32 cm, flowers closely packed along axis.
loose, 55–220-flowered, 11.5–35 cm, flowers well separated along axis.
tepals linear to cuneate proximally and broadly subulate distally, 2.3–3.8 mm, fleshy, margins entire or rarely irregularly crenate;
auricles distinct or absent;
filaments subulate, 2 times tepal length.
tepals green, elliptic to narrowly ovate or obpandurate, 2–3.2 mm, fleshy, margins entire;
auricles sometimes present;
filaments subulate, 1.5 times tepal length.
1–3-locular, ellipsoid to plumply ovoid, 0.8–1.9 cm × 5–12 mm.
2–3-locular, ovoid, 7.5–11 × 3.2–5.5 mm.
2–4(–8) per locule, 3–6.7 × 1.6–2.2 mm.
1–3 per locule, 4–6.3 × 1.3–1.8 mm.
= 16.
= 16.
Schoenocaulon texanum
Schoenocaulon dubium
The morphology of Schoenocaulon texanum is peculiarly dependent upon annual rainfall. Plants of small stature but average bulb size can be readily distinguished as the products of one or several seasons of lower than normal rainfall. The hallmarks of such plants are congested racemes, few flowers, these often appearing withered and brown, and ovaries that do not mature or have perhaps only one small locule ripening to produce a few seeds.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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