Kingdom Plantae Clade Monocots Family Asphodelaceae Rank Species | Clade Angiosperms Order Asparagales Subfamily Asphodeloideae | |
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Similar Asphodelus albus, Asphodelus cerasiferus, Asphodelus ramosus, Asphodelus aestivus, Asphodelus tenuifolius | ||
Asphodelus macrocarpus is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Asphodelus of the Asphodelaceae 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.
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Description
Asphodelus macrocarpus grows to a height of 60–150 centimetres (24–59 in). The stem is erect, plain, cylindrical and glabrous. It is supported by fleshy, thickened roots (rhizomes). All the leaves are basal, gutter-shaped and covered by a greyish waxy coating. They are about 10–40 millimetres (0.39–1.57 in) wide and 50–100 centimetres (20–39 in) long. The terminal raceme is almost cylindrical, about 25–35 centimetres (9.8–13.8 in) long. The flowers are hermaphroditic, funnel-shaped, about 4 centimetres (1.6 in) of diameter, with six elongated white petals. The stamens have a white filament of about 17 mm. Anthers are oval, yellow- orange 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) long. The flowering period extends from late April through June. The egg-shaped yellow-green seed capsules are about 18 millimetres (0.71 in) long.
Distribution
This plant is typical of the most of the Alps and of the Apennines.
Habitat
This plant is commonly found in meadows, uncultivated fields and mediterranean mountain pastures at an altitude of 300–1,800 metres (980–5,910 ft) above sea level.