Brodiaea stellaris
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 17: 381. 1882.
Scape 2–6 cm, slender. Flowers 14–24 mm; perianth bluish purple, tube campanulate, 7–10 mm, transparent, not splitting in fruit, lobes ascending, recurved distally, 7–15 mm; filaments 1–3 mm, base not triangular, apex forked with 2 conspicuous, broad, white, abaxial appendages appearing as wings behind anthers; anthers linear, 4–6 mm, apex notched; staminodia erect, held close to stamens, white, broad, 4–8 mm, wide, margins 1/4 involute, apex widely notched; ovary 6–9 mm; style 4–5 mm; pedicel 1–5 cm. 2n = 12.
Phenology: Flowering spring (May–Jun).
Habitat: Openings in coastal forests, on serpentine
Elevation: 0–900 m
Discussion
Brodiaea stellaris is a serpentine endemic found in mixed evergreen and redwood forests in the North Coast Ranges of California. The white, glossy, forked appendages on the filaments of this species are very different from those found in B. appendiculata and B. californica and perhaps are not homologous. Also, the capsule is unique in the genus in that it does not split at maturity and is transparent. All other members of the genus have mature capsules that either split and are transparent, or do not split and are opaque.
Selected References
None.