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Melanthium hybridum Walter. Common name: Crisped Bunchflower. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Moist to dry forests, usually in base-rich soils. Distribution: CT south to NC, SC, n. GA, and c. AL; disjunct west of the Mississippi River in nc. AR.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: See Ward (2010) and Zomlefer (2012) for discussion of the nomenclatural issues.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, G, K4, NY, POWO, RAB, W, WV; = Melanthium latifolium Desr. — FNA26, NS, S, S13, Tat; = Veratrum hybridum (Walter) Zimmerman ex Zomlefer — Va, Zomlefer (2012); = Veratrum latifolium (Desr.) Zomlefer — Ar, NE, Pa, Tn, Zomlefer (1997a)

Links to other floras: = Melanthium latifolium - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 4

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image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of moist to dry forests, usually in base-rich soils.

Stems: Stems hollow, mostly unbranched, thickened at the base, hairy.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal, petiolate-clasping, elliptic to oblong-oval, 10 or more in. long, with prominent parallel veins; stem leaves few, sessile and greatly reduced.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in a narrow panicle about 1 ft. long, off-white to yellowish, about ½ in. wide, consisting of 6 spreading, undulate-margined, triangular tepals with tapered, incurved tips and 2 tiny glands at the base just above the abruptly tapered claw.

Fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsule with 3 persistent, beak-like styles.

Comments:

Height: 1-4 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of moist to dry forests, usually in base-rich soils.

stems: Stems hollow, mostly unbranched, thickened at the base, hairy.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal, petiolate-clasping, elliptic to oblong-oval, 10 or more in. long, with prominent parallel veins; stem leaves few, sessile and greatly reduced.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in a narrow panicle about 1 ft. long, off-white to yellowish, about ½ in. wide, consisting of 6 spreading, undulate-margined, triangular tepals with tapered, incurved tips and 2 tiny glands at the base just above the abruptly tapered claw.

fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsule with 3 persistent, beak-like styles.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: