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 Flowers Sue Carnahan @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial) |  Leaves Brigham Young University, S. L. Welsh Herbarium @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial) |  Plant Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Perennial
General Desc:
Distinctive characteristics of this plants are its dense, grass-like clumps of folded leaves and a strikingly beautiful solitary purple flower.
Identification notes: Erect to lax slender stems; leaves mostly basal, folded, paired; solitary flower on stem branches; 6 tepals (petals and sepals); dark purple, bright yellow at base; crossed by 3 or 5 darker veins; tiny, spine-like projection at tips.
Height:
20 inches
Habitat Description: Found along ephemeral waters (dry streams that flow after periods of rain), streams, wet moist meadows, springs and meadows.
Plant Communities:
Montane Conifer Forest, Riparian
Elevation: 5000 - 10000 feet
Color:
Purple, yellow
Shape:
Regular not in clusters
Tubular:
N
Flowering Period:
Jun - Sep
Description:
Pair of bracts enclose flower cluster; outer bract 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long; tapering evenly to apex; margins united basally 1/16 to 1/4 inch; symmetrical; 6 tepals (sepals and petals) 1/4 to 3/4 inch, anther filaments united; hairless ovary.
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Narrow
Leaf Margin:
Smooth
Leaf Attachment:
Basal
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
No
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Stems 1/8 inch wide; 1 to 2 nodes; uppermost with 2 to 3 branches; margins smooth; hairless surface; leaves folded lengthwise, 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide; mostly basal, overlapping, paired.
Fruit Color: Light brown
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Straw to beige color; dry; splits lengthwise at maturity to divide each chamber into 2 parts; 1/8 to 1/4 inch long; oval to nearly round.
Seed Notes: Dark brown or black.
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