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

ALETRIS/NARTHECIACEAE 749
Tofieldiaceae, which are in a clade including Alismataceae and Araceae, near the base of the
monocots (Chase et al. 2000; Fuse & Tamura 2000). For a detailed discussion of the groups formerly
treated as Liliaceae in the broad sense, see the family synopsis of the Liliaceae (here
treated in a restricted sense) on page 726. Family name from Narthecium, BOG ASPHODEL, a genus
of 4–8 species of temperate North America, e Asia, and w Europe. (Name an anagram of
Anthericum L.—Zomlefer 1997c, a genus previously treated in a broadly defined Liliaceae but
now in the Anthericaceae—Mabberley 1997) (subclass Liliidae—Cronquist; order Dioscoreales—
APG II)
FAMILY RECOGNITION IN THE FIELD: scapose perennials with small white to yellow flowers in a
spike-like raceme, the tepals free only at their tips and wrinkled and roughened externally and
appearing mealy.
REFERENCES: Dahlgren et al. 1985; Goldblatt 1995; Zomlefer 1997a, 1997c, 1999; Reveal &
Zomlefer 1998; Tamura 1998c; Caddick et al. 2000, 2002a, 2002b; Fuse & Tamura 2000; Davis et
al. 2004.
ALETRIS L. STAR-GRASS, COLIC-ROOT
Perennial, glabrous herbs from a short thick rhizome; leaves mostly in a basal rosette, sessile,
linear-lanceolate to elliptic, flat; flowers in a spike-like raceme terminating a nearly naked
scape (a few small remote bracts can be present); flowers perfect, each subtended by 2 subulate,
unequal bracts; perianth tubular to campanulate, wrinkled and roughened externally (appearing
mealy or farinose), the 6 segments (= tepals) free only at the apex (lobes); stamens 6, attached
to perianth just below perianth lobes; style 1, with 3 stigmas; ovary superior to partly
inferior; fruit a beaked capsule.
AA genus of ca. 15–25 species of North America, the West Indies (Bahamas), and e Asia
(Zomlefer 1997c; Sullivan 2002), including several cultivated as ornamentals. Some authors
(e.g., Wen 1999) consider this genus an example of an e Asia-e North America disjunction; this
distribution pattern is discussed under the genus Brachyelytrum (Poaceae). The rhizomes of
some species (particularly A. farinosa) are rich in steroidal sapogenins and have been used medicinally,
giving rise to such common names as COLIC-ROOT, AGUE-ROOT, BREAST-ROOT, BACK-
ACHE-ROOT, and RHEUMATISM-ROOT (Cheatham et al. 1995; Zomlefer 1997c). (Greek: aletris, a female
slave who ground corn, referring to the apparent mealiness of the perianth)
REFERENCES: Browne 1956, 1961; Sullivan 2002.
1. Perianth yellow to orange-yellow, ca. 6–7 mm long, the lobes ovate to triangular ________________ A. aurea
1. Perianth white to creamy-white, usually (7–)8–10 mm long, the lobes lanceolate to lanceoblong
_________________________________________________________________________ A. farinosa
Aletris aurea Walter, (golden), YELLOW STAR-GRASS, YELLOW COLIC-ROOT, GOLDEN COLIC-ROOT.
Leaves flat, lanceolate, 2–8(–12) cm long, 10–20 mm wide, bright yellow green; scape 20–80 cm
or more tall; pedicels 3 mm or less long; perianth yellow to orange-yellow (can fade upon drying),
roughened on the outside; beak of fruit gradually narrowed. Savannahs, boggy areas, pine
barrens; Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah; also n Gulf Prairies and Marshes; se U.S. from MD
s to FL w to AR, OK, and TX. May–Jul. m/273
Aletris farinosa L., (mealy, powdery), UNICORN-ROOT, WHITE-TUBE STAR-GRASS, WHITE STAR-
GRASS, SOUTHERN COLIC-ROOT, WHITE COLIC-ROOT. Leaves 4–15(–20) cm long, (5–)10–20(–26)
mm wide, dark green; scape 40–100 cm tall; perianth white to creamy white, roughened on the
outside; beak of fruit abruptly narrowed. Sandy soils, gravels, and peats; tentatively included
based on citations for East TX by Correll and Johnston (1970) and for the ne corner of East TX
(without county specified) by Sullivan (2002); no county distribution map is provided; se
Canada and widespread in the e U.S. w to IL, AR, and TX. Late spring–mid-summer. m/273