Brodiaea stellaris
Encyclopedia
Brodiaea stellaris is a species of flowering plant in the cluster-lily genus
known by the common name starflower brodiaea. It is endemic to northern California
, where it grows on the serpentine soil
s of the North Coast Ranges. This perennial produces a short inflorescence
only a few centimeters tall which bears flowers on pedicels
. Each flower has six blue-purple tepal
s up to 1.5 centimeters long. At the center of the flower are large white sterile stamen
s called staminode
s which surround the distinctive forked fertile stamen
s.
Brodiaea
Brodiaea is a monocot genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Brodiaeoideae, also known by the common name cluster-lilies...
known by the common name starflower brodiaea. It is endemic to northern 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 on the serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s of the North Coast Ranges. This perennial produces a short 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...
only a few centimeters tall which bears flowers on pedicels
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
. Each flower has six blue-purple tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s up to 1.5 centimeters long. At the center of the flower are large white sterile stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s called staminode
Staminode
In botany, a staminode is an often rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamen. This means that it does not produce pollen. Staminodes are frequently inconspicuous and stamen-like, usually occurring at the inner whorl of the flower, but are also sometimes long enough to protrude from the...
s which surround the distinctive forked fertile stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s.