Stenanthium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stenanthium |
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| Flowers of Stenanthium gramineum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Melanthiaceae |
| Tribe: | Melanthieae |
| Genus: | Stenanthium (A.Gray) Kunth |
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Stenanthium is a group of flowering plants found in North America. These plants belong to the lily family, called Melanthiaceae.
A common name for plants in this group is Featherbells. They get this name because their flowers often look like delicate feathers.
Contents
What Are Featherbells?
Featherbells are unique plants that grow from a slender, tube-shaped bulb. This bulb is like a small underground storage unit for the plant. Unlike some other similar plants, Featherbells have brown seeds that do not have a special outer layer called a sarcotesta.
Scientists have studied Featherbells using modern methods to understand how they are related to other plants. These studies have helped them sort out which plants belong in the Stenanthium group. For example, some plants that used to be in this group were moved to a different group called Anticlea. Also, some plants from the Zigadenus group, known as deathcamases, were moved into Stenanthium.
Where Do Featherbells Grow?
Most Featherbells grow in the eastern and south-central parts of the United States. You can find them in states ranging from Texas all the way to Florida, and north to Michigan and Connecticut. One type, the western featherbells, grows in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.
Different Kinds of Featherbells
There are several different kinds, or species, of Featherbells. Scientists sometimes disagree on the exact number of species because they are always learning more about plants. Here are some of the recognized species:
- Stenanthium densum – This plant is also known as Osceola's plume. It grows in the southeastern United States, from Texas to Virginia.
- Stenanthium diffusum – This species is found in Tennessee.
- Stenanthium gramineum – Called eastern featherbells, this plant grows across a wide area. You can find it from eastern Texas to Florida, and north to Michigan and Connecticut.
- Stenanthium leimanthoides – Known as pine barren deathcamas, this species is found in the eastern and south-central United States, from eastern Texas to Florida, and north to New York.
- Stenanthium macrum – This species grows along the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida.
- Stenanthium occidentale – This is the western featherbells. It lives in the Pacific Northwest, parts of northwestern California, and Western Canada.
- Stenanthium tennesseense – This species is found in southern Tennessee.
Different plant experts and organizations might list a slightly different number of species. For example, the Flora of North America and the USDA recognize two main species: Stenanthium gramineum and Stenanthium occidentale. Other sources consider S. leimanthoides as a separate species. Scientists are always doing new research to understand these plants better!
See also
In Spanish: Stenanthium para niños
