Androstephium breviflorum Family: Liliaceae – Lily Family Short perennial herbs at Arches National Park; from bulbs; stems annual; monocot Leaves: parallel veined; mainly alternate; simple; narrow and grasslike; 1 to 3 leaves Flowers: 3 white or purple petals; 3 petaloid sepals; bisexual; 6 stamens; 1 pistil; radially symmetrical; umbels with 3 to 8 flowers; flowers 0.48” to 0.84” (12 to 21 mm) long Pollinators: other Androstephium species are pollinated by insects Fruits: 3 chambered capsule; seeds black Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: Park Avenue, Broken Arch trail, Windows, Fiery Furnace, Lost Spring Canyon Other: The genus name, “Androstephium”, is from the Greek "andros" meaning “stamen” and “stephanos” meaning “crown” referring to the apical appendages of the united filaments. The species name, “breviflorum”, means “short flowers”. Yucca and aloe used to be in this family. The family is extremely complex. Some ornamentals and medicinally useful plants are in this family, but a few species are poisonous. |
Last updated: November 19, 2021