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cebolleta, copper zephyr-lily

Leaf

blade dull green, to 1(–2) mm wide.

blade dull green, to 5 mm wide.

Flowers

erect to slightly inclined;

perianth yellow, funnelform, 2.1–2.8 cm;

perianth tube green, 0.2–0.6 cm, increasing in diam., no more than 1/4 perianth length, ca. 1/2 (1/4–3/4) filament length, no more than 1/4 spathe length;

tepals rarely reflexed;

stamens diverging, in 2 distinctly unequal sets;

filaments filiform, 0.7–1.1 cm;

anthers in 2 nonoverlapping sets, 3–6 mm;

style longer than perianth tube;

stigma 3-fid, usually among anthers;

pedicel 0.7–1.5 cm, shorter than spathe.

erect;

perianth lemon yellow, salverform to broadly funnelform, 2.5–9 cm;

perianth tube yellowish green, 1.1–4.4 cm, diam. uniform, ca. 1/2 perianth length, ca. 3–5 times filament length, somewhat shorter than spathe;

tepals usually reflexed;

stamens fasciculate to semifasciculate, appearing equal;

filaments subulate, 0.4–0.9 cm, apex acute;

anthers 3–7 mm;

style longer than perianth tube;

stigma capitate, among or exserted more than 2 mm beyond anthers;

pedicel (0–)0.1–3.5 cm, shorter than spathe.

Spathe

2.1–3.1 cm.

2.2–4.6 cm.

2n

= 48.

= 53, 54, 58, 70, 72.

Zephyranthes longifolia

Zephyranthes smallii

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (May–Aug). Flowering early fall (Sep–Oct).
Habitat Sandy, gravelly, calcareous, alkaline soils in highlands Low, sandy loam, open fields, swales, ditches
Elevation 40–2400 m (100–7900 ft) 0–10 m (0–0 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; TX; Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
TX
Discussion

Morphology, cytology, and distribution suggest that Zephyranthes smallii (predominantly 2n = 54) arose from hybridization between Z. pulchella (2n = 48) and Z. chlorosolen (2n = 60 in Cameron County) in Brownsville.

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

Source FNA vol. 26, p. 300. FNA vol. 26, p. 301.
Parent taxa Liliaceae > Zephyranthes Liliaceae > Zephyranthes
Sibling taxa
Z. atamasca, Z. candida, Z. chlorosolen, Z. citrina, Z. drummondii, Z. grandiflora, Z. insularum, Z. jonesii, Z. pulchella, Z. refugiensis, Z. rosea, Z. simpsonii, Z. smallii, Z. traubii, Z. treatiae
Z. atamasca, Z. candida, Z. chlorosolen, Z. citrina, Z. drummondii, Z. grandiflora, Z. insularum, Z. jonesii, Z. longifolia, Z. pulchella, Z. refugiensis, Z. rosea, Z. simpsonii, Z. traubii, Z. treatiae
Synonyms Cooperia smallii
Name authority Hemsley: Diagn. Pl. Nov. Mexic., 55. (1880) (Alexander) Traub: Pl. Life 7: 42. (1951)
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