| Family: | Melanthiaceae |
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| Common name: | death camas family [Zomlefer, pp. 270-273] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 14 genera; 168 species U.S.: 12 genera PNW (Oregon Flora Project): 5 genera |
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| Flower | |
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K3 Co3 S6 P(ol).GIF) |
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| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | raceme, sometimes solitary, umbel, or cyme |
| Calyx (sepals): | 3, separate, may resemble petals (=tepals) |
| Corolla (petals): | 3, separate |
| Androecium: | 6, in two whorls opposite the perianth parts |
| Gynoecium: | 3 united carpels, three separate styles, superior ovary (=hypogynous) or rarely inferior ovary (=epigynous), axile placentation, numerous ovules |
| Fruit: | capsule or berry |
| Other features: | |
| Vegetative Features | |
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| Leaves: | alternate and spiral or whorled, simple, often linear |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | herbs,with underground storage organs (typically rhizomes) |
| Distribution & Ecology: | cosmopolitan; mostly temperate regions of N. Hemisphere |
| Some Northwest Genera: |
Toxicoscordion , death camas (formerly Zigadenus) Trillium, trillium, wake-robin Veratrum, false hellebore Xerophyllum, bear grass |
| Economic Importance | |
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| Crops: | Xerophyllum, bear grass (baskets, florists arrangements) |
| Ornamentals: | Trillium, trillium Veratrum, corn lily |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Melanthiaceae Toxicoscordion |
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| Melanthiaceae Trillium |
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| Melanthiaceae Veratrum |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
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