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red hills soap plant

Scientific Name: Chlorogalum grandiflorum

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Red Hills Soap Plant (Chlorogalum grandiflorum)

Chlorogalum grandiflorum, commonly known as Red Hills soap plant, is a flowering plant species endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Considerations for Pets

  • The common name "Soap Plant" hints at the presence of saponins, which can cause irritation if ingested.
  • The plant grows from a bulb.

Considerations for Children

  • The common name "Soap Plant" hints at the presence of saponins, which can cause irritation if ingested.
  • The plant grows from a bulb.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Chlorogalum grandiflorum Hoover
  • Family: Belongs to the Lily family.
  • Synonyms: Chlorogalum angustifolium (narrowleaf soap plant) is mentioned but is a different species.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Endemic to western North America, specifically the Sierra Nevada foothills.
  • Found in the north and central Sierra Nevada foothills.
  • Specifically mentioned occurrences include the Pine Hill Preserve in Cameron Park, CA and the Red Hills region of Kansas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Perennial herb, also described as a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
  • Grows from a bulb, ovoid in shape, 5-7 cm in size.
  • Bulb tunic is reddish to brown and membranous.

Ecological Role

  • The Red Hills region in Kansas reports 90 non-native plant species.

Traditional Uses

  • The common name "Soap Plant" alludes to its historical use as a soap substitute.

Further Information

  • PLANTS Web site is referenced as a source of information.
  • Discover Life has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Chlorogalum grandiflorum.
  • California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.