Xerophyllum asphodeloides

Stems (0.5-)0.8-1(-1.5) m. Leaf blade 3-5 dm × 1-2.5 mm. Racemes 1.5-3 dm. Tepals oblong to ovate, 5-8 × 2-3 mm; styles 1.5-2 mm. Capsules 4-5.5 mm. Seeds 2 per locule. 2n = 30.

Flowering spring--early summer. Pine barrens and dry mountain woods; 0--1400 m; Ala., Del., Ga., Ky., Md., N.J., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Xerophyllum asphodeloides is disjunct from the xeric oak-hickory forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains to the dry sandy soils of the pine barrens of New Jersey (L. Artz 1951; W. B. Zomlefer 1997b). Xerophia, a unique alkaloid, has been reported from this species (W. Procter 1839).

Basal lvs to 4 dm, ca 2 mm wide; stem erect, 8-15 dm; cauline lvs filiform, progressively reduced, the lower 10-15 cm; raceme 5-6 cm thick, compact at first, elongating to as much as 3 dm; pedicels 3-4 cm, at maturity suberect; fls 1 cm wide; fr 5 mm; 2n=30. Pine-barrens from N.J. s. occasionally to N.C.; mt. woods from Va. to Tenn. and Ga. June.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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