Fritillaria falcata

(Jepson) D. E. Beetle

Madroño 7: 148. 1944.

Common names: Talus fritillary
EndemicConservation concern
Basionym: Fritillaria atropurpurea var. falcata Jepson Fl. Calif. 1: 309. 1921
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 169. Mentioned on page 166.

Bulb scales: large 2–4; small 8–32. Stem 0.7–2 dm. Leaves 2–6, alternate, ± fleshy near stem, 3.5–8.5 cm; blade broadly linear, folded, sickle-shaped. Flowers erect; tepals clearly mottled rusty brown and yellow adaxially, greenish abaxially, obovate, 1.5–2.2 cm, apex not recurved; nectaries obscure, yellowish green, spotted brownish, broadly lanceolate to ± diamond-shaped, 1/2–2/3 tepal length; style obviously branched for ca. 2/3 its length, branches longer than 1.5 mm. Capsules acutely angled. 2n = 24.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Apr.
Habitat: Serpentine talus
Elevation: 300–1200 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

This is a rare, relatively restricted endemic found only in the San Francisco Bay region and slightly northward.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.