Brodiaea stellaris
Bulbous geophyte native to serpentine soils in coastal northern California forests (North Coast Ranges), blooming in late May to early June, with a short inflorescence of six blue-violet tepals and a center of large white sterile staminodes surrounding forked fertile stamens.
Common Names
Starflower Brodiaea, Star Brodiaea, Star-Flower Cluster-Lily, Star Flowered Brodiaea, Star-Flowered Brodiaea, Starflower Clusterlily, Starflower Lily
Summary
Starflower cluster-lily is a perennial herb native to California, occurring as a bulbous geophyte with a short 2–6 cm scape bearing a loose, open umbel of bluish-purple flowers. Each bloom is 14–24 mm long with a campanulate, transparent tube and six tepals; distinctive white forked appendages appear on the filaments, and white, broad staminodes lie at the center. The fruiting capsule is non-splitting and transparent, and the plant has a 2n = 12 chromosome complement.
It occurs in serpentine soils of the North Coast Ranges and in coastal evergreen and Redwood forest communities, at elevations from 0 to 900 m. It flowers in spring and has a bracteate inflorescence that is open and umbellate, with an overall bluish-purple floral display.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-2.5 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 6-10
Soil Type
Serpentine soils
Bloom Color
Bluish purple
Bloom Time
Spring (May–Jun)
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- S.Watson
- Publication
- Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 17: 380 (1882)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Brodiaea