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Leucocrinum

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Leucocrinum

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
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, common 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 atop a narrow tube 2–3 cm long. The tube extends deep underground with the large angular black seeds are formed there.[7] The species is dimorphic in its pollen production, with two distinct pollen forms occurring in separate populations.[5]

Cultivation

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The wildflower writer Claude A. Barr reported that when dormant plants may be safely transplanted, though the plant may fail to bloom the next year due to the loss of roots. They do require a well drained soil, but not an entirely sandy soil as their name suggests. They grow in sandy clay loam or gravelly clay that is low in organic matter.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 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. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ Leucocrinum montanum. NatureServe. 2012.
  5. ^ a b Leucocrinum montanum. Flora of North America.
  6. ^ Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
  7. ^ a b Barr, Claude A. (1983). Jewels of the plains : wild flowers of the Great Plains grasslands and hills. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 106. ISBN 0-8166-1127-0.
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