Dichelostemma volubile

(Kellogg) A. Heller

Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2: 65. 1903.

Common names: Twining brodiaea snake-lily
Endemic
Basionym: Macroscapa volubilis Kellogg Pacific (San Francisco) 3(34): 132. 1854 Brodiaea californica (Torrey) Jepson 1911
Synonyms: Brodiaea volubilis (Kellogg) Baker Dichelostemma californicum (Torrey) Alph. Wood Hookera volubilis (Kellogg) Jepson Rupalleya volubilis (Kellogg) Morière Stropholirion californicum Torrey
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 331. Mentioned on page 328.

Leaves 3–4, 30–70 cm; blade strongly keeled. Scape weak, not self-supporting except distal 10 cm erect, otherwise twining, 40–150 cm, scabrous. Inflorescences umbellate, dense, 6–20-flowered; bracts pinkish, widely ovate, 12–15 mm, apex acute. Flowers horizontal or erect; perianth pink or rarely white, tube globose or urceolate, constricted above ovary, 5–7 mm, with 6 sac-like angles, lobes widely spreading, ascending in fruit, 5–7 mm; perianth appendages 2 per stamen, folded inward toward anthers, hiding them and forming corona, white, narrowly lanceolate, 3–4 mm, apex 2-fid into 2 wings; stamens 3, equal; anthers 3–4 mm; staminodia 3, opposite outer tepals, creamy whitish, linear-oblong, 2.5–3 mm, margins ciliate-dentate, involute, apex usually shallowly notched; ovary sessile or short-stipitate, subglobose, 4–5 mm; style 3–4 mm; pedicel 10–40 mm. 2n = 18, 36.


Phenology: Flowering spring (Apr–early Jun).
Habitat: Foothill woodlands, chaparral, scrub
Elevation: 100–1600 m

Discussion

Dichelostemma volubile is distinguishable by its very long, weak, twining scape; small pink flowers; strongly urceolate perianth tube with well-developed saccate angles; and possession of both perianth appendages and true staminodia (sterile stamens) opposite the outer limb segments, as found in most species of Brodiaea. It is confined to a narrow belt in the foothill areas adjacent to the Central Valley, and is known to hybridize with D. multiflorum in Tuolumne County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Dichelostemma volubile"
J. Chris Pires +
(Kellogg) A. Heller +
Macroscapa volubilis +  and Brodiaea californica +
Twining brodiaea +  and snake-lily +
100–1600 m +
Foothill woodlands, chaparral, scrub +
Flowering spring (Apr–early Jun). +
Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. +
Brodiaea volubilis +, Dichelostemma californicum +, Hookera volubilis +, Rupalleya volubilis +  and Stropholirion californicum +
Dichelostemma volubile +
Dichelostemma +
species +