Dipterostemon capitatus (Bentham) Rydberg

Blue Dicks, School Bells
Themidaceae

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Protologue: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 39: 111 (1912).
Pronunciation: Dip-te-ro-stè-mon ca-pi-tà-tus
Etymology: "Two-winged stamen" + capitate "head-like"

[Dichelostemma capitatum (Benth.) Alph.Wood; see Preston. 2017. Phytoneuron 2017-15: 1–11.]

Jepson eFlora Treatment

Jepson eFlora Key to subspecies

SD County Synoptic Voucher - D. c. subsp. capitatus
SD County Synoptic Voucher - D. c. subsp. pauciflorus


Distribution:
 
Left: S.D. County Plant Atlas (http://sdplantatlas.org). Right: CCH2. Click to see current herbarium records.  

 
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus
A perennial, acaulescent herb from a corm. Leaves are basal/radical, acicular. Inflorescence is a scapose terminal glomerule.

 
Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus
Glomerule of flowers at apex of scape. Note homochlamydeous perianth (outer and inner whorls similar, termed tepals).
The numerous flowers and purple bracts distinguish this subspecies from D. c. subspecies pauciflora.


Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. capitatus
Note the 3 antipetalous stamens are flanked by two broad wings, hence the genus name Di (two) ptero (winged) stemon (stamen).