Twining brodiaea, snake-lily

Macroscapa volubilis Kellogg, Pacific (San Francisco) 3(34): 132. 1854; Brodiaea californica (Torrey) Jepson 1911, not Lindley 1849; B. volubilis (Kellogg) Baker; Dichelostemma californicum (Torrey) Alph. Wood; Hookera volubilis (Kellogg) Jepson; Rupalleya volubilis (Kellogg) Morière; Stropholirion californicum Torrey

Leaves 3–4, 30–70 cm; blade strongly keeled. Scape weak, not self-supporting except distal 10 cm erect, otherwise twining, 40–150 cm, scabrous. Inflorescences umbellate, dense, 6–20-flowered; bracts pinkish, widely ovate, 12–15 mm, apex acute. Flowers horizontal or erect; perianth pink or rarely white, tube globose or urceolate, constricted above ovary, 5–7 mm, with 6 sac-like angles, lobes widely spreading, ascending in fruit, 5–7 mm; perianth appendages 2 per stamen, folded inward toward anthers, hiding them and forming corona, white, narrowly lanceolate, 3–4 mm, apex 2-fid into 2 wings; stamens 3, equal; anthers 3–4 mm; staminodia 3, opposite outer tepals, creamy whitish, linear-oblong, 2.5–3 mm, margins ciliate-dentate, involute, apex usually shallowly notched; ovary sessile or short-stipitate, subglobose, 4–5 mm; style 3–4 mm; pedicel 10–40 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering spring (Apr--early Jun). Foothill woodlands, chaparral, scrub; 100--1600 m; Calif.

Dichelostemma volubile is distinguishable by its very long, weak, twining scape; small pink flowers; strongly urceolate perianth tube with well-developed saccate angles; and possession of both perianth appendages and true staminodia (sterile stamens) opposite the outer limb segments, as found in most species of Brodiaea. It is confined to a narrow belt in the foothill areas adjacent to the Central Valley, and is known to hybridize with D. multiflorum in Tuolumne County.