Triantha glutinosa
 
Sticky Asphodel

Leaves, Side A

Duck Mountain Provincial Park
29-June-2007

The leaves of this species are equitant.  This means they are folded lengthwise, with the margins fused and pointing toward the stem.  A diagram illustrating this is found here.

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Triantha: Answers to key questions leading to this genus, from Lilies, Irises & Orchids of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harms and Anna L. Leighton.  The answers are in the order you would normally work through the key.
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Flowers terminal, either single or grouped in an umbel, raceme or panicle.  NOT [Flowers axillary, suspended on delicate stalks from leaf axils, either singly or in few-flowered clusters (leaves small and scale-like in Asparagus).]

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Flowers several-to-many in an umbel, raceme or panicle.  NOT [Flowers single (occasionally Hypoxis has a single flower but it is unique in having an inferior ovary).]

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Inflorescence a raceme or panicle. NOT [Inflorescence an umbel.]

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Leaves basal or subbasal; blades narrow, grass-like; fruit a capsule. NOT [Leaves cauline, sessile or nearly so; blades lanceolate, elliptic or ovate; fruit a berry.]

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Plants with rhizomes; inflorescence compact, 3-35 flowered and less than 6.5 cm long; tepals 1-5 mm long, lacking nectar gland on upper surface. NOT [Plants with bulbs or corms; inflorescence open, 1 to many-flowered and 2-25 cm long; tepals usually longer, bearing an obovate to semi-circular nectar gland at base on upper side.]

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Plants to 50 cm high; stems sticky due to presence of glands; leaves to 30 cm long, attached near base of stem often with a small, leaf-like bract midway up stem; flowers attached in groups of 3 to the rachis; seeds with an appendage at each end; capsules 3.5-7.5 mm long. NOT [Plants to 30 cm high; stems lacking sticky glands; leaves to 8 cm long, usually forming a tuft at base of stem; flowers attached singly to the rachis; seeds lacking appendages; capsules to 3 mm long.]

 

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Liliaceae: Answers to key questions leading to this family, from Lilies, Irises & Orchids of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harms and Anna L. Leighton. 
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Ovary positioned above the attachment point of the other flower parts (ovary superior) or with the other parts attached partway up the ovary wall (ovary partly inferior) or, if ovary positioned below the attachment point (ovary inferior), then stamen number 6 (Hypoxis); stamens 3 or 6 (rarely 4); fruit a capsule or berry.  NOT [Ovary positioned below the attachment point of the other flower parts (ovary inferior); stamens 1-3; fruit a capsule.]