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Androstephium
breviflorum
(Sand Lily) Synonym: Alliaceae (Onion Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Semi-desert. Sand, canyons, openings. Spring. One, two, or three long and narrow leaves precede the often much shorter flower stalk of Sand Lily. Flower stalks do sometimes, however, elongate as the plant matures. The white to green flower with green to purple stripes is very easy to miss, but the very large green seed capsules (see below) are eye-arresting. "Andros" is Greek for "man" and "stephium" for "crown" both alluding to a rounded feature of the flower. "Breviflorum" is Latin for "short flowers". |
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Androstephium
breviflorum (Sand Lily) Synonym: Alliaceae (Onion Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Semi-desert. Sand, canyons, openings. Spring. |
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Androstephium
breviflorum
(Sand Lily) Synonym: Alliaceae (Onion Family). Liliaceae (Lily Family). Semi-desert. Sand, canyons, openings. Spring. When we are walking trails, the exotic, three-lobed capsules containing the seeds, are as difficult to pick out of the background of the soils and rocks they grow in as are the small and inconspicuous flowers. But when we focus in on them, as in the photographs on this page, we can really appreciate their delicate and even exotic beauty. Focusing in on them in photographs then trains our brain and makes it much easier to find them next time in the field. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Androstephium breviflorum |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence