Chamaelirium

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Chamaelirium luteum, commonly known as Blazing-Star, Devil's Bit, Fairy Wand, False Unicorn, is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including wet meadows and deciduous woodlands.

Chamaelirium
Inflorescence, as flowers are just beginning to open
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Chamaelirium
Species:
C. luteum
Binomial name
Chamaelirium luteum

Chamaelirium luteum has a basal rosette of around six 8-15cm leaves, from which a single spike-like raceme inflorescence (1-1.5cm diameter, 8-30cm length) emerges. The plants are generally dioecious, with male-biased gender ratios in a given population. This is due to higher mortality of female plants, and the tendency of female plants to flower less frequently. Female stalks tend to be taller, giving a total maximum plant height of about 12dm, but also tend to have about ten times fewer flowers.[1]

C. luteum is the only member of its monotypic genus, and is quite rare at the fringes of its range.[2]

References

  1. ^ Meagher, T. R. (1982). "The population biology of Chamaelirium luteum, a dioecious member of the lily family: life history studies". Ecology. 63 (6). Ecological Society of America: 1690–1700. doi:10.2307/1940111. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Allard, D. J. (2003). Chamaelirium luteum (L.) A. Gray (Devil's Bit). Conservation and Research Plan for New England (PDF). New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |publisher= at position 45 (help)