Aletris_farinosa - (image 1 of 4)
Taxonomy
Family: Liliaceae
Habitat
Moist, sandy, rather acid soil. Open woods and barrens
Associates
Distribution
ME, south to FL, west to MN through TX
Morphology
Herbaceous perennial .5 to 1 m. Leaves in a basal rosette, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, to 20 cm long, acuminate. Upright stem bearing bract-like leaves and a slender, spike-like raceme to 20 cm long; flowers perfect, white, roughened, tubular, to 10 mm; perianth with 6 narrowly triangular lobes.
Notes
Flowers June to July
Wetland Indicator: Facultative Wetland
This plant is inconspicuous when it is not in flower. At one time the roots were used for the treatment of colic but it is generally regarded as being poisonous.
References
Gleason, Henry A.
and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States
and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G.
Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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© Michael Hough 2004 |