Roughfruit fairybells

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Prosartes
Species:
P. trachycarpa
Binomial name
Prosartes trachycarpa
Synonyms[1]
  • Disporum trachycarpum (S.Watson) Benth. & Hook.f.
  • Lethea trachycarpa (S.Watson) Farw.
  • Disporum canadense Shafer
  • Disporum majus (Hook.) Britton
  • Disporum trachycarpum var. subglabrum Kelso
  • Uvularia lanuginosa var. major Hook.

Prosartes trachycarpa, the roughfruit fairybells,[2] rough-fruited fairybells or rough-fruited mandarin, is a North American species of plants in the lily family.[3][4] The species is widespread, known from British Columbia to Ontario and south to Arizona and New Mexico.[4][1] One isolated population was reported from Isle Royale in Lake Superior.[4]

Description

This herbaceous perennial is 30 centimeters (12 in) to 80 centimeters (31 in) in height. The stems are only sparingly branched and have a softly fuzzy texture when young and become smooth or nearly so with age. The leaves are alternate and are about 4 centimeters (1.6 in) to 12 centimeters (4.7 in) long.[4]

The flowers are delicate and hang down from the stem tips, each flower has four pedals. The berry is larger than a Saskatoon, pincherry or chokecherry, about the size of a grocery store cherry or small grape. The rough-fruited fairybell can be found in the same locale as other native fruits such as Saskatoons and chokecherries.[5][6][7] Berries begin yellow, then orange and when fully ripe are red, often with all three colors on the same raceme.[8] Typically 2—3 berries grow on each stem tip. The surface of the fruit feels fuzzy and velvety.[4] The berries are edible, but bland.[9]

The species is listed amongst plants found in the Prince Albert National Park and Riding Mountain National Park and are considered a common range plant of northern Saskatchewan.[10][11]

Uses

The berries have historically been eaten by Blackfeet Native Americans.[12]

Saskatchewan rough fruited fairy bells
Fairy bells

References

  1. 1 2 POWO (2023). "Prosartes trachycarpa S.Watson". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Prosartes trachycarpa". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Utech, F. H., Z. K. Shinwari, and S. Kawano. 1995. Biosystematic studies in Disporum (Liliaceae-Asparagoideae-Polygonateae). VI. Recognition of the North American section Prosartes as an autonomous genus. Memoirs of the Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Series Biology 16: 1–41.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Utech, Frederick H. (5 November 2020). "Prosartes trachycarpa - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Vance, F.R.; Jowsey, J.R.; McLean, J.S. (1977), Wildflowers Across the Prairies, Saskatoon, SK: Western Producer Books, p. 141, ISBN 0-919306-74-8
  6. ↑ Vance, F R; J.R. Rowsey; J.S Maclean; F.A. Switzer (1999), Wildflowers across the prairies With a new section on Grasses, sedges and rushes, Vancouver, British Columbia: Western Producer Prairie Books, p. 25, ISBN 1-55054-703-8
  7. ↑ Wilkinson, Kathleen (1999), Wildflowers of Alberta A Guide to Common Wildflowers and Other Herbaceous Plants, Edmonton Alberta: Lone Pine Publishing and University of Alberta, p. 19, ISBN 0-88864-298-9
  8. ↑ Barr, Claude A. (1983). Jewels of the plains : wild flowers of the Great Plains grasslands and hills. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 67. ISBN 0-8166-1127-0.
  9. ↑ Stark, Eileen (30 July 2018). "Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Fairy bells (Prosartes spp.)". Real Gardens Grow Natives. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Innvista, Prince Albert National Park, archived from the original on 2008-07-06, retrieved 2008-08-03
  11. ↑ common range plants of northern Saskatchewan (PDF), retrieved 2008-08-03
  12. ↑ Reiner, Ralph E. (1969). Introducing the Flowering Beauty of Glacier National Park and the Majestic High Rockies. Glacier Park, Inc. p. 118.


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