57. Schoenolirion Torrey ex Durand, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, ser. 2. 3: 103. 1855.
[name conserved]
Rush-lily [Greek schoenos, rush, and lirion, white lily]
H. L. Sherman
Amblystima Rafinesque 1837, name rejected; Oxytria Rafinesque 1837, name rejected
Herbs, perennial, scapose, glabrous, from rootstocks; rootstock vertical, 1–12 cm, fleshy, sometimes bulbose; principal roots contractile, arising from tops of rootstocks. Bulbs, when present, ovoid or elongate, scales lunate. Leaves 2–7, basal; blade flat to nearly terete, sometimes keeled. Inflorescences racemose or 1–3(–6)-branched, bracteate, flowers initially crowded, internodes elongating after anthesis. Flowers soon deciduous if unfertilized; tepals persistent, withering separately to base, distinct, yellow or white, each 3–7-veined, equal, 2–6 mm; stamens 6; filaments equal, shorter than tepals, 1–2 mm, inner 3 nectariferous at base; anthers introrse; ovary superior, globose, 3-lobed, 3-locular, placentation axile, ovules 2 per locule; style 1; stigma unlobed or slightly 3-lobed; pedicel 6–15(–30 mm). Fruits capsular, dehiscent, flattened or indented at top, prominently 3-lobed. Seeds glossy black, globose, flattened on 1 side, smooth. x = 12.
Species 3 (3 in the flora): se United States, including e Texas.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Gray, A. 1876. Schoenolirion Torr. Amer. Naturalist 10: 426–427. Pollard, C. L. 1897. The genus Oxytria of Rafinesque. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 24: 405–406. Sherman, H. L. 1969. A Systematic Study of the Genus Schoenolirion (Liliaceae). Ph.D. thesis. Vanderbilt University. Sherman, H. L. and R. W. Becking. 1991. The generic distinctness of Schoenolirion and Hastingsia. Madroño 38: 130–138.
