Prosartes trachycarpa

Rough-Fruited Fairybells
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Prosartes
Species: P. trachycarpa
Binomial name
Prosartes trachycarpa
S. Watson

Prosartes trachycarpa, or Rough-Fruited Fairybells or Rough-Fruited Mandarin, is a member of the genus Prosartes of perennial flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. This species was previously placed in the genus Disporum.[1][2] The species is widespread, known from British Columbia to Ontario and south to Arizona and New Mexico.[3][4] One isolated population was reported from Isle Royale in Lake Superior.[2]

The flowers are delicate and hang down. The berry is larger than a Saskatoon, pincherry or chokecherry, about the size of a grocery store cherry or small grape. The rough-fruited fairybell can be found in the same locale as other native fruits such as Saskatoons, and Chokecherries.[5][6][7] This perennial is 30 centimeters (12 in) to 60 centimeters (24 in) in height. The leaves alternate and are about 3 centimeters (1.2 in) to 8 centimeters (3.1 in) Berries begin yellow, then orange and when fully ripe are red. The surface of the fruit feels fuzzy and velvety.[2]

The images of the rough-fruited fairy bell here were photographed as one was climbing up the riverbank of the South Saskatchewan River south of Saskatoon. The first nations ate fairybells, and a previous name was dog feet.[8]

The specimen shown in the photograph, Prosartes trachycarpa (rough-fruited fairybell) was found in western Canada. The specis is listed amongst plants found in the Prince Albert National Park and Riding Mountain National Park and are considered a common range plant of northern Saskatchewan.[9][10]

Saskatchewan rough fruited fairy bells
Fairy bells

External links

References

  1. ↑ Utech, F. H., Z. K. Shinwari, and S. Kawano. 1995. Biosystematic studies in Disporum (Liliaceae-Asparagoideae-Polygonateae). VI. Recognition of the North American section Prosartes as an autonomous genus. Memoirs of the Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Series Biology 16: 1–41.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Flora of North America on-line
  3. ↑ Flora of North America v 26 p 144
  4. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. ↑ Vance, F.R.; Jowsey, J.R.; McLean, J.S. (1977), Wildflowers Across the Prairies, Saskatoon, SK: Western Producer Books, p. 141, ISBN 0-919306-74-8
  6. ↑ Vance, F R; J.R. Rowsey, J.S Maclean and F.A. Switzer (1999), Wildflowers across the prairies With a new section on Grasses, sedges and rushes, Vancouver, British Columbia: Western Producer Prairie Books, p. 25, ISBN 1-55054-703-8
  7. ↑ Wilkinson, Kathleen (1999), Wildflowers of Alberta A Guide to Common Wildflowers and Other Herbaceous Plants, Edmonton Alberta: Lone Pine Publishing and University of Alberta, p. 19, ISBN 0-88864-298-9
  8. ↑ Johnson Kershaw, MacKinnon Pojar (1995), Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Aspen Parkland, Edmonton Alberta: Lone Pine Publishing and the Canadian Forest Service., p. 83, ISBN 1-55105-058-7
  9. ↑ Innvista, Prince Albert National Park, retrieved 2008-08-03
  10. ↑ common range plants of northern Saskatchewan, retrieved 2008-08-03
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Disporum trachycarpum.