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brodiaea

Scientific Name: Brodiaea

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Brodiaea: The Cluster-Lily

Brodiaea is a captivating genus of flowering plants, celebrated for its clusters of delicate, star-shaped flowers. Often found gracing gardens and natural landscapes, these plants add a touch of elegance to any setting.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • Brodiaea grows from corms.
  • Some Brodiaea species are called "Fool's Onion" and have corms with a thin skin.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Brodiaea
  • Common Names: Cluster-lilies, Mountain Lilies, Pretty Face, Wild Hyacinth, Grassnut, Ithuriel's Spear, Elegant Brodiaea

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Asparagaceae
  • Subfamily: Brodiaeoideae
  • Brodiaea Smith, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 10: 2. 1811.
  • Synonyms/Alternative Classifications: Dicholestemma, Breevoortia, Triteleia, Ipheion
  • Classified and reclassified under Brodiaea, Dichelostemma and Triteleia over time.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to western North America.
  • Geographic range extends from Vancouver, B.C. to Baja California.
  • Habitats include vernal pools and wet grasslands.
  • Specifically mentioned locations: Northern California, San Diego County, Sulphur.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Small bulbous plant
  • Grows from corms, which rapidly multiply.
  • Basal leaves are grasslike.
  • Flowers in June, flowering from May to July.
  • Flowers are starry, funnel-shaped, and come in shades of pink, white, blue, or purple.
  • Plant height up to 1 foot tall (Brodiaea elegans).
  • Brodiaea californica has 6cm wide vase-shaped blue-violet flowers with a broad green midstripe on each tepal.
  • Brodiaea coronaria is a corm growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
  • Bulb Size: 4/5.
  • Height: up to 35cm.
  • Depth: For Autumn-Fall planting, plant bulbs at a depth of 5 cm (2").

Genetic and Cytological Information

  • Taxonomic and cytological findings seemed to justify the separation of the plants into three genera - Brodiaea, Di-.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Mention of interactions with Larry Norris who was conducting a Biological Assessment of the area, discovering Brodiaea Insignis.

Quirky Facts

  • The name Brodiaea is in honor of James Brodie (1744–1824), a Scottish cryptogamic botanist.
  • Some species are called "Fool's Onion."

Further Information

  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society): Find help &amp information on Brodiaea lactea.
  • Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2002, Preston
  • Witham, Brodiaea californica 2004 Robert E. Preston, Ph.D.
  • Brodiaea coronaria 2003 George W. Hartwell, Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans