Hesperocallis

Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox Hesperocallis is a genus of flowering plants that includes a single species, Hesperocallis undulata, known as the desert lily or ajo lily.

Description

Plants grow from an ovoid bulb with 2-3 leaves. Plants have ruffled edge leaves that are linear lanceolate 20-40 x 1-1.5 cm. Bracts are ovate1-1.5 cm long. Pedicils are 1 cm long. Flowers form on a 10-30 long inflorescence with many flowers. Flowers are white funnel shaped, with a blue green or silver gray band in the middle of the back of the petals. The seed capsules is 1.5 cm long and rigid. Seeds are 0.5 cm long.

Distribution

It is found growing in sand flats and dunes in the desert areas of southwestern North America, in Baja California and Sonora, Northwestern Mexico; California, Nevada, and Arizona. The plant grows in Mojave Desert, Colorado Desert, and Sonoran Desert habitats.The bulbs grow up to 60 cm below the surface of the soil. This species is pollinated by sphinx moth. Plants bloom from February to May.

• BLM Desert Lily Preserve near Desert Center, California
  BLM Desert Lily Preserve near Desert Center, California
• H. undulata growing in Vallecito Mountains, elevation Script error: No such module "convert".
  H. undulata growing in Vallecito Mountains, elevation

Taxonomy

In the APG III system, adopted here, Hesperocallis is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, since recent molecular systematic studies (Pires et al. 2004) have confirmed a close relationship with Agave. Other classifications have included the species in its own family, Hemerocallidaceae, or placed it in the Hostaceae (Funkiaceae); both families are submerged into the Agavoideae in the APG III system. As with many of the 'lilioid monocots', prior to the use of molecular evidence in classification, it was placed in the Liliaceae.

Uses

The bulbs of the desert lily are eaten by native peoples.

Further reading

• Pires, J. C., I. J. Maureira, J. P. Rebman, G. A. Salazar, L. I. Cabrera, M. F. Fay, and M. W. Chase. 2004. Molecular data confirm the phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic Hesperocallis (Hesperocallidaceae) with Agave. Madroño 51: 307–311.
• NCBI Taxonomy Browser

External links

• Template:Sister-inline
• Template:Sister-inline
• CalFlora Database: Hesperocallis undulata
• Hesperocallis undulata pictures
• BLM Desert Lily Preserve photo album
• links at CSDL, Texas