Zigadenus elegans
Smooth Camus
Flower Longitudinal Section
Clair Lake Regional Park
01-July-2006
Note that the petals are not attached to the
bottom of the ovary, but rather at about two thirds of the way to the
top. Thus the ovary is partially inferior, unlike that of Z.
venenosus which is superior. Note also the obcordate
(inverted-heart-shaped), green glands near the bases of the tepals.
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Elegans: Answers to key questions
leading to this species, 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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Ovary partly inferior with perianth parts
attached to the ovary base; tepals cream-colored to greenish, 7-20 mm
long; nectar glands on tepals obcordate, well-defined. NOT [Ovary
superior with perianth parts attached beneath the ovary; tepals
yellowish, less than 7 mm long; nectar glands on tepals obovate or
semi-circular, ill-defined.]
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Zigadenus: 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 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.
NOT [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.] |
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Inflorescence a 10-50-flowered raceme or
panicle; ovary superior or partly inferior; anthers cordate to reniform;
rootstocks bulbs. NOT [Inflorescence a (1) 2-5 (7)-flowered raceme
or umbel; ovary inferior; anthers Y-shaped; rootstocks corms.]
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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.] |
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