View source for Amianthium

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Amianthium
|accepted_authority=A. Gray
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York
|place=4: 121. 1837
|year=1837
}}
|common_names=Fly-poison;crow-poison;St. Elmo’s-feather;staggergrass
|basionyms={{Treatment/ID/Basionym
|name=Chrosperma
|authority=Rafinesque
|rank=genus
|publication_title=
|publication_place=1825
}}
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Liliaceae;Amianthium
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Liliaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Amianthium]]</div></div>
|etymology=merged Greek amiantos, unsoiled, and anthos, flower, alluding to the glandless tepals
|volume=Volume 26
|mention_page=page 55, 56, 82, 90
|treatment_page=page 89
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism duration;whole_organism growth form"><b>Herbs,</b> perennial, from bulbs;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="bulb architecture;bulb shape;bulb length;bulb width">bulbs tunicate, ovoid-oblong, ca. 5 × 2.5 cm;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="root architecture">roots contractile.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="stem orientation;stem architecture"><b>Stems </b>erect, simple.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="leaf size;leaf arrangement or course;leaf orientation;leaf orientation;leaf architecture or shape;leaf position"><b>Leaves </b>mostly basal, reduced distally, spiral, arching downward, sheathing proximally;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="blade shape;blade shape;blade pubescence;apex shape">blade linear-elongate, strap-shaped, glabrous, apex obtuse to abruptly acute.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="inflorescence position or structure subtype;inflorescence arrangement;inflorescence density;inflorescence architecture;inflorescence pubescence"><b>Inflorescences </b>terminal, racemose, dense, bracteate, glabrous.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="flower reproduction;flower reproduction;flower reproduction;flower reproduction;flower shape;flower orientation;flower architecture"><b>Flowers </b>bisexual or both bisexual and unisexual flowers borne on the same or on different plants, cupshaped to widely spreading, pedicellate;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="tepal duration;tepal quantity;tepal fusion;tepal coloration;tepal shape;claw coloration;apex presence;apex shape;apex variability;apex size;apex coloration">tepals persistent, 6, distinct, white, turning reddish green, claws absent, oblong-obovate, equal to subequal, apex acute;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="tepal gland presence">tepal glands absent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="stamen quantity;stamen position;stamen fusion">stamens 6, perigynous, distinct;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="filament shape;apex shape">filaments subulate, apex acute;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="anther fixation;anther architecture or structure in adjective form;anther shape;anther dehiscence or orientation;disc architecture">anthers basifixed, 1-locular, cordate-ovate, extrorse, opening into peltate disc (apical/valvate dehiscence);</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="pollen-sac arrangement">pollen-sacs apically confluent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="ovary position;ovary architecture or structure in adjective form;ovary orientation">ovary superior to partly inferior, 3-locular, diverging;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="septal nectary presence">septal nectaries absent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="style duration;style quantity;style orientation;style fusion">styles persistent, 3, widely diverging, distinct;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="stigma position or structure subtype;stigma size">stigmas terminal, minute.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="fruit architecture;fruit shape;fruit architecture;fruit dehiscence;fruit dehiscence"><b>Fruits </b>capsular, deeply 3-lobed, thin-walled, dehiscence septicidal, then adaxially loculicidal.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="seed quantity;seed coloration;seed architecture;seed shape;seed reflectance"><b>Seeds </b>1–2 per locule, brownish to purplish black, wingless, ellipsoid, lustrous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s20" data-properties="">testa fleshy.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s21" data-properties="testa texture;x chromosome quantity">x = 8.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=e North America
|discussion=<p>Species 1.</p><!--
--><p>Amianthium is frequently included in a broadly circumscribed Zigadenus (J. D. Ambrose 1975, 1980; S. M. Kupchan et al. 1961; S. J. Preece 1956; W. B. Zomlefer 1997b). The absence of tepal nectaries or glands is a major generic characteristic of this Appalachian–Ozark taxon (F. H. Utech 1986). Narrow-leaved specimens of Amianthium are often confused with Zigadenus densus.</p><!--
--><p>A self-incompatible, pollination-breeding system involving primarily beetles occurs in Amianthium (M. E. Palmer et al. 1989; A. M. Redmon et al. 1989; J. Travis 1984). An associated tepal color shift, as in Zigadenus densus, may represent possible pollinator signals (J. Travis 1984).</p><!--
--><p>Two unique, toxic alkaloids, jervine and amianthine, found in Amianthium roots and leaves (N. Neuss 1953; S. M. Kupchan et al. 1961; R. F. Raffauf 1970; I. W. Southon and J. Buckingham 1989; G. E. Burrows and R. J. Tyrl 2001), caused deaths in cattle and sheep. Native Cherokee used the plant as a dermatological cure for itch and as a crow poison (D. E. Moerman 1986). Root extracts mixed with molasses or honey have been used as a housefly insecticide (C. D. Marsh et al. 1918).</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Amianthium
|author=Frederick H. Utech
|authority=A. Gray
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=
|basionyms=Chrosperma
|family=Liliaceae
|illustrator=Barbara Alongi
|illustration copyright=Flora of North America Association
|distribution=e North America
|reference=None
|publication title=Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York
|publication year=1837
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V26/V26_93.xml
|genus=Amianthium
|anther architecture or structure in adjective form=1-locular
|anther dehiscence or orientation=extrorse
|anther fixation=basifixed
|anther shape=cordate-ovate
|apex coloration=reddish green
|apex presence=absent
|apex shape=acute;oblong-obovate;obtuse;abruptly acute
|apex size=subequal
|apex variability=equal
|blade pubescence=glabrous
|blade shape=strap--shaped;linear-elongate
|bulb architecture=tunicate
|bulb length=5
|bulb shape=ovoid-oblong
|bulb width=2.5
|claw coloration=reddish green
|disc architecture=peltate
|filament shape=subulate
|flower architecture=pedicellate
|flower orientation=spreading
|flower reproduction=unisexual;bisexual;both;bisexual
|flower shape=cup-shaped
|fruit architecture=thin-walled;capsular
|fruit dehiscence=loculicidal;septicidal
|fruit shape=3-lobed
|inflorescence architecture=bracteate
|inflorescence arrangement=racemose
|inflorescence density=dense
|inflorescence position or structure subtype=terminal
|inflorescence pubescence=glabrous
|leaf architecture or shape=sheathing
|leaf arrangement or course=spiral
|leaf orientation=downward;arching
|leaf position=basal
|leaf size=reduced
|ovary architecture or structure in adjective form=3-locular
|ovary orientation=diverging
|ovary position=superior;partly inferior
|pollen-sac arrangement=confluent
|root architecture=contractile
|seed architecture=wingless
|seed coloration=brownish;purplish black
|seed quantity=1;2
|seed reflectance=lustrous
|seed shape=ellipsoid
|septal nectary presence=absent
|stamen fusion=distinct
|stamen position=perigynous
|stamen quantity=6
|stem architecture=simple
|stem orientation=erect
|stigma position or structure subtype=terminal
|stigma size=minute
|style duration=persistent
|style fusion=distinct
|style orientation=diverging
|style quantity=3
|tepal coloration=white
|tepal duration=persistent
|tepal fusion=distinct
|tepal gland presence=absent
|tepal quantity=6
|tepal shape=acute
|testa texture=fleshy
|whole_organism duration=perennial
|whole_organism growth form=herb
|x chromosome quantity=8
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Liliaceae]]