Chamaelirium luteum

(Linnaeus) A. Gray

Manual, 503. 1848.

Common names: Blazing-star devil’s-bit fairy-wand rattlesnake-root
IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Veratrum luteum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 1044. 1753
Synonyms: Chamaelirium carolinianum Willdenow Chamaelirium obovale Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 69. Mentioned on page 65, 68.

Staminate plants 5–20-leaved, 1.5–3.5 dm. Pistillate plants 15–50-leaved, 3–6 dm, 1.5 m in fruit. Leaf blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 5–20 × 1.5–6 cm, apex obtuse, tapering proximally to broad petiole, 4–6 cm; distal blades oblanceolate to linear, 3–8 × 1–1.5 cm. Staminate flowers divergent, white; tepals 3–4 mm; filaments dimorphic, the outer longer; anthers white, 0.5 mm; pistils absent; pedicel 2–5 mm. Pistillate flowers ascending, white; tepals 2–3 mm; staminodes present; ovary elliptic to obovate; styles 1.5–2 mm; stigmas sessile. Capsules ovoid-oblong, 7–14 × 5–6 mm. Seeds reddish brown, 1.8–2 mm; 5–6 mm (including winglike aril).


Phenology: Flowering late spring–summer.
Habitat: Moist meadows, thickets, rich wooded slopes, and coves
Elevation: 0–1100 m

Distribution

V26 47-distribution-map.jpg

Ont., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Chamaelirium is rare in southern Ontario (J. H. Soper 1962; D. J. White et al. 1982) and quite local in several eastern states. The flowers turn yellow on drying, hence the specific name. The roots, called “starwort” or “unicorn root,” are used medicinally.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Chamaelirium luteum"
Frederick H. Utech +
(Linnaeus) A. Gray +
Veratrum luteum +
Blazing-star +, devil’s-bit +, fairy-wand +  and rattlesnake-root +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Ky. +, La. +, Md. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Miss. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Va. +  and W.Va. +
0–1100 m +
Moist meadows, thickets, rich wooded slopes, and coves +
Flowering late spring–summer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Chamaelirium carolinianum +  and Chamaelirium obovale +
Chamaelirium luteum +
Chamaelirium +
species +