Asphodelus L.

5. Asphodelus L. 1

Annuals or rhizomatous perennials. Leaves linear, all basal. Flowers white or pale pink, numerous, in a dense raceme or panicle; bracts persistent, scarious. Pedicels articulated. Perianthsegments 6, free or united only at the base, patent. Stamens 6, free; filaments expanded at base; anthers dorsifixed, introrse. Fruit a loculicidal capsule; seeds 6.

1 Slender annual or short-lived perennial with hollow, subterete

leaves and slender roots; capsule 4-5 mm in diameter

1. fistulosus 1 Robust perennial with flat leaves and napiform to fusiform

roots on a short rhizome; capsule (5-)6-18 mm in

diameter 2 Bracts dark brown; inflorescence usually simple 2. albus 2 Bracts whitish, sometimes becoming brown on drying;

inflorescence usually branched 3 Capsule 8-20 mm 4 Capsule 8-14 mm, ovoid; inflorescence much-branched,

the terminal branch scarcely exceeding the laterals

3. ramosus 4 Capsule 16-20 mm, globose; inflorescence unbranched or

with few, short lateral branches 2. albus 3 Capsule 5-7 mm 5 Capsule obovoid 4. aestivus 5 Capsule mitriform, + 3-lobed at apex 5. bento-rainhae