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Species Details

Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) Benth. & Hook. f.

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »

LeavesAlternate, spirally arranged, oval to elliptic, 3-8cm long, 2-5 cm long, margins entire, hairless above, parallel venation FlowersInflorescence solitary or up to 4 terminal flowers; flowers radially symmetric, bell shaped; tepals 6, distinct, lance-oblong, white to beige; stamens 6, equal to or slightly longer than tepals; pistils 1, stigma 3-cleft, ovary superior Fruits and SeedsBerry, spherical, somewhat 3-lobed, 1 cm across, rough surface, green maturing to orange to red, 4-8 seeds
Scientific Name Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) Benth. & Hook. f. Common Name fairybells; rough-fruited fairybells (Johnson et al., 1995). General Description A perennial herb that grows from creeping rhizomes to a height of 30-60 cm tall; the stem is branched, leafy, slightly hairy and bears white or greenish-white flowers (Johnson et al., 1995). Leaves Alternate, spirally arranged, oval to elliptic, 3-8cm long, 2-5 cm long, margins entire, hairless above, parallel venation Flowers
Inflorescence solitary or up to 4 terminal flowers; flowers radially symmetric, bell shaped; tepals 6, distinct, lance-oblong, white to beige; stamens 6, equal to or slightly longer than tepals; pistils 1, stigma…
Inflorescence solitary or up to 4 terminal flowers; flowers radially symmetric, bell shaped; tepals 6, distinct, lance-oblong, white to beige; stamens 6, equal to or slightly longer than tepals; pistils 1, stigma 3-cleft, ovary superior
Fruits and Seeds Berry, spherical, somewhat 3-lobed, 1 cm across, rough surface, green maturing to orange to red, 4-8 seeds Phenology Flowers from May to June Notes
Similar species: Disporum hookeri D. trachycarpum may be confused with Disporum hookeri (Oregon fairybells), however, Oregon fairybells differ in having glabrous, oval-shaped berries that are yellow to orange-red…
Similar species: Disporum hookeri D. trachycarpum may be confused with Disporum hookeri (Oregon fairybells), however, Oregon fairybells differ in having glabrous, oval-shaped berries that are yellow to orange-red rather than rough-fruited and red as in D. trachycarpum (Royer and Dickinson, 2007). Ethno-botanical uses: D. trachycarpum have edible berries with little taste. The Blackfoot would frequently eat the berries and called them “dog feet” which is likely because their rough surface resembles the bottom of a dog’s foot (Johnson et al, 1995).
Range/Distribution Alberta: Scattered throughout southern half of the province (Canadensys). CAN (BC, SK, MB, ON); USA (WA, OR, MT, ID, ND, SD, NV, WY, UT, NE, CO, AZ, NM) (USDA).

Citation

Page Citation for Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) Benth. & Hook. f.

Page Citation

"Species Details - Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) Benth. & Hook. f., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-3164. Accessed 02 Jan. 2025.

Specimen Information

There is 1 specimen of this Species.

1 result plotted on map in 1 marker.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

119706 - Disporum trachycarpum (S. Wats.) Benth. & Hook. f.

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namefairybells; rough-fruited fairybells (Johnson et al., 1995). Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, University of Alberta Woodbend Field Station Date Collected2008-05-26