''Asphodelus macrocarpus'' is a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

plant belonging to the genus ''

Asphodelus ''Asphodelus'' is a genus of mainly perennial flowering plants in the asphodel family Asphodelaceae that was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The genus was formerly included in the lily family (Liliaceae). The genus is native to tempera ...

'' of the

Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 40 ...

family. The Latin name ''macrocarpus'' of this species derives from the Greek μακρός (meaning ''large'') and καρπειον (meaning ''fruit''), referred to the size of the fruits.

Description

''Asphodelus macrocarpus'' grows to a height of . The stem is erect, plain, cylindrical and glabrous. It is supported by fleshy, thickened roots (

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s). All the leaves are basal, gutter-shaped and covered by a greyish waxy coating. They are about wide and long. The terminal

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

is almost cylindrical, about long. The flowers are hermaphroditic, funnel-shaped, about of diameter, with six elongated white petals. The

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s have a white filament of about 17 mm. Anthers are oval, yellow- orange long. The flowering period extends from late April through June. The egg-shaped yellow-green seed capsules are about long.

Gallery

Distribution and habitat

This plant is typical of the most of the Alps and of the Apennines (

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

). This plant is commonly found in meadows, uncultivated fields and mediterranean mountain pastures at an altitude of above sea level.

References

* Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. III
Asphodelus macrocarpus
* Conti F. et al. - Checklist of the Italian Vascular Flora - Palombi Editori - 2005
The Plant List

World Checklist

External links

Biolib

Flora italiana
macrocarpus Flora of Europe Flora of Italy {{Asphodelaceae-stub