Triteleia peduncularis
Encyclopedia
Triteleia peduncularis is a monocot
flowering plant
in the genus Triteleia. Its common names include longray triteleia. It is endemic to California
, where it occurs in the coastal and inland mountain ranges of the northern and central sections of the state. It grows in vernally moist habitat such as meadows, grassland
, and vernal pool
s, often in areas with serpentine soil
s. It is a perennial wildflower growing from a corm
. There are two or three basal leaves measuring up to 40 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. The inflorescence
arises on a smooth, erect stem up to 80 centimeters tall. It is an umbel
-like cluster of several flowers which are borne on very long, straight pedicels
measuring up to 18 centimeters long. Each funnel-shaped flower is white, often tinged purple, with six tepal
s up to 1.6 centimeters in length. There are six stamen
s with white anthers, and the ovary
at the center is yellow when the flower is fresh.
Monocotyledon
Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of two major groups of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized, the other being dicotyledons, or dicots. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon , in contrast to the two cotyledons typical of dicots...
flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the genus Triteleia. Its common names include longray triteleia. It is endemic to 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 occurs in the coastal and inland mountain ranges of the northern and central sections of the state. It grows in vernally moist habitat such as meadows, grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, and vernal pool
Vernal pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species...
s, often in areas with 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. It is a perennial wildflower growing from a corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
. There are two or three basal leaves measuring up to 40 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. 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...
arises on a smooth, erect stem up to 80 centimeters tall. It is an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
-like cluster of several flowers which are borne on very long, straight 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....
measuring up to 18 centimeters long. Each funnel-shaped flower is white, often tinged purple, with six 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 1.6 centimeters in length. There are six stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s with white anthers, and the ovary
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
at the center is yellow when the flower is fresh.