keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

LYCORIS/AMARYLLIDACEAE
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usually taller and bear 2–5 [usually] flowers” (versus in Galanthus outer perianth segments
larger than inner, and solid stems that bear 1 flower) (Straley & Utech 2002c). Several species
are cultivated as ornamentals. � The leaves and bulbs of Leucojum are reported to contain the
alkaloids lycorine and galanthamine and to be poisonous (Straley & Utech 2002c). (Greek:
leucos, white, and ion, a violet, in reference to the color and delicate fragrance of the flowers)
REFERENCES: Stern 1956; Webb 1980; Elliott 1992; Crespo et al. 1996; Straley & Utech 2002c.
Leucojum aestivum L., (summer), GIANT SNOWFLAKE, SUMMER SNOWFLAKE. Bulbose perennial;
leaves broadly linear, to ca. 50(–70) cm long and 5–20 mm wide, surrounded at base by tubular
sheaths, well-developed at flowering time; scapes (20–)35–60 cm tall, hollow, somewhat flattened
and with 2 membranous wings; umbel with 2–7 nodding flowers, subtended by an apparently
solitary, membranous bract 3–5 cm long; pedicels (1–)2.5–6(–7) cm long; perianth campanulate,
without elongate perianth tube; corona absent; perianth segments 6, free nearly to
base, all about equal, each white with yellowish green spot near the tip, (10–)1.5–2(–2.2) cm
long; anthers longer than filaments; seeds 5–7 mm long, black, with testa (= seed coat) loose,
forming air pockets. Cultivated and escaping; Dallas (BRIT) and Panola (ASTC) cos.; se Canada
and widespread in e U.S. w to IL and TX. Mar. Native of Europe. Two other similar European
species are cultivated and may persist in East TX: I
Leucojum vernum L., (spring), SPRING SNOWFLAKE, native of Europe, has the perianth segments
all equal, flowers usually solitary, and whitish seeds. I
Galanthus nivalis L., (genus: Greek: gala, milk, and anthos, flower; sp.: of snow), SNOWDROP,
COMMON SNOWDROP, has the inner perianth segments much shorter than outer, only the inner
green-tipped, and flowers solitary. This European native is considered to be “one of the most
popular of all cultivated bulbose plants” for cool temperate climates (Davis 1999). I
LYCORIS Herb. RED SPIDER-LILY
AA genus of ca. 20 species (Meerow & Snijman 1998), primarily e Asian, ranging from China,
Korea, and Japan to Burma; cultivated as ornamentals. � The bulbs of Ly coris species are poisonous
due to the presence of the alkaloid lycorine (Lampe & McCann 1985). (Named after
Lycoris, a beautiful Roman actress and mistress of Marc Antony)
REFERENCES: Traub & Moldenke 1949; Hsu et al. 1994; Tae & Ko 1996.
Lycoris radiata (L’Hér.) Herb., (with rays), SPIDER-LILY, RED SPIDER-LILY, HURRICANE-LILY. Bulbose
perennial to ca. 50 cm tall; leaves 30–60 mm long, to ca. 8 mm wide, glaucous, not present with
the flowers, appearing only after the flowers have withered; inflorescence a few-flowered umbel
at end of a solid scape; flowers bright red, lacking fragrance; perianth ca. 4–5 cm long, the lobes
reflexed and with wavy margins; stamens much-exserted, twice as long as perianth; ovary inferior;
fruit a few-seeded capsule. Cultivated and long persisting or possibly escaping; Liberty Co.
(Brown et al. 2002a), also known from a roadside ditch in Grayson Co. (G. Diggs, pers. obs.); scattered
in the e U.S. in FL, IL, LA, MS, NC, SC, and TX. Fall (Oct). Native of China, Japan, and Korea.
Poisonous (Lampe & McCann 1985). � I m/291
NARCISSUS L. DAFFODIL, NARCISSUS
Bulbose, glabrous, scapose perennials with linear, flat or terete leaves exserted from closed tubular
sheaths; inflorescence terminal, umbellate or the flower solitary, subtended by a membranous
sheathing bract splitting along 1 side; flowers often sweet-scented, yellow and/or
white; perianth united into a tube, this terminating in a central tubular or cup-shaped crown (=
corona), the perianth lobes spreading to reflexed from the base of the corona; corona often
ruffled at apex, often differently colored from perianth lobes; stamens often of 2 different
lengths; fruit a many-seeded capsule.