Zigadenus gramineus Rydb.

  • Authority

    New York Botanical Garden. Herbarium of Dr. Per Axel Rydberg. Purchased, 1899. Contributions from the New York Botanical Garden.

  • Family

    Melanthiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Zigadenus gramineus Rydb.

  • Description

    Species Description - A slender yellowish-green plant, 2-3.5 dm. high. Bulb elongated ovoid, 2-3 cm. long and 1-1.5 cm. in diameter: leaves narrowly linear, scabrous on the margins and the midrib, 1-2 dm. long, 3-5 mm. wide, conduplicate and somewhat falcate, all with distinct scarious sheaths surrounding the stem: racemes rather short: bracts scarious, lanceolate, long-acuminate: flowers light yellow: sepals broadly ovate, obtuse at the apex, acute at the base and very short-clawed: petals ovate, obtuse, subcordate at the base and with claws about 1 mm. long: glands almost semi-orbicular; upper margin toothed, but thin and not well defined: capsule elongated ovoid, 8- 10 mm. long, 3-4 mm. in diameter.

  • Discussion

    Z. gramineus resembles somewhat the preceding, but is lower, of a yellowish color ; its stem leaves are evidently sheathed, the sepals are short clawed, not subcordate at the base and the gland thin and without a distinctly thickened upper border. Z. gramineus grows on hillsides up to an altitude of 2500 m. ; from Saskatchewan and Alberta, south to western Nebraska and Idaho.

    Montana: Spanish Basin, 1897, Rydberg & Bessey, 3848 (type); 1896, Flodman, 343 ; Helena, 1891, F. D. Kelsey.

    Idaho: Beaver Canon, 1895, Rydberg.

    South Dakota: Hot Springs, 1892, Rydberg, 1051 Wyoming: Yellowstone Park, 1888, Dr. Chas. H. Hall.

    Saskatchewan: 1858, E. Boiirgeau.

  • Distribution

    Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Wyoming, Saskatchewan.

    Saskatchewan Canada North America| Montana United States of America North America| Idaho United States of America North America| Wyoming United States of America North America|