Leucocrinum

Leucocrinum montanum
Conservation status

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Leucocrinum
Nutt. ex A.Gray
Species: L. montanum
Binomial name
Leucocrinum montanum
Nutt. ex A.Gray
Synonyms[1]
  • Leucrinis Raf.
  • Leucocrinum montanum var. majus Baker
  • Leucocrinum montanum var. fibrosum E.H.Kelso

Leucocrinum montanum, commonly known as the sand lily, starlily or mountain lily, is the only species in the monotypic genus Leucocrinum, placed in the family Asparagaceae, and subfamily Agavoideae.[2] It is native to the western United States, primarily in the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin.[3][4][5][6][1]

This species is a perennial plant growing from a deep system of fleshy roots. It is stemless, growing no more than about 10 cm (4 in) tall. It produces tufts of long, narrow leaves sheathed together at the bases. The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped cluster of flowers amidst the foliage. The fragrant flower has six white tepals around 2 cm (0.8 in) long. The species is dimorphic in its pollen production, with two distinct pollen forms occurring in separate populations.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Chase, M. W.; Reveal, J. L. & Fay, M. F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
  3. Leucocrinum montanum. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
  4. Leucocrinum montanum. NatureServe. 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Leucocrinum montanum. Flora of North America.
  6. Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map

External links