Chlorogalum grandiflorum
Encyclopedia
Chlorogalum grandiflorum is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Red Hills soap plant. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills, such as the Red Hills (Tuolumne County)
, of California
, where it grows in chaparral
, woodland, and forest.
up to 7 centimeters wide. The basal leaves have very wavy edges. The inflorescence
may be a meter long and is composed of many flowers, each with six tepals which are white with a purple midvein. The tepals are narrow, up to 3 centimeters long, and curl back as they spread open. Each ephemeral flower opens in the evening and closes by the following morning. There are six stamen
s tipped with yellow anthers. The fruit is a capsule just over half a centimeter long.
Red Hills (Tuolumne County)
The Red Hills are a mountain range in Tuolumne County, California.Elevations within the Red Hills vary between 750 and 1,750 feet above sea level. Slopes of the hills themselves vary from about 30% to 75%.-Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern:...
, of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
, woodland, and forest.
Description
This uncommon perennial wildflower grows from a red or brown-coated bulbBulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
up to 7 centimeters wide. The basal leaves have very wavy edges. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
may be a meter long and is composed of many flowers, each with six tepals which are white with a purple midvein. The tepals are narrow, up to 3 centimeters long, and curl back as they spread open. Each ephemeral flower opens in the evening and closes by the following morning. There are six stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s tipped with yellow anthers. The fruit is a capsule just over half a centimeter long.