Brodiaea coronaria (Salisb.) Engl.
crown Brodiaea (harvest brodiaea)
Asparagaceae
(Previously in Liliaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Dave Ingram     (Photo ID #4431)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Brodiaea coronaria
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a deep, dark brown, fibrous-scaly, nearly globe-shaped, bulb-like corm about 2 cm long; flowering stems erect, stout, 10-30 (40) cm tall, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaves withering before the flowers appear, 1 to 3, linear, somewhat rounded (crescent-shaped in cross-section), about as long as the stem, 2 mm wide, smooth, sheathing at the base, the margins entire; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a loose, terminal umbel of 2 to 10, erect to spreading, unequally stalked flowers, above several bracts, the stalks stout, 2-10 cm long; flowers violet-purple, funnel-shaped to narrowly bell-shaped, of 6 fused segments, 2-4 cm long; corolla lobes in 2 petal-like whorls, lanceolate, longer than the tube, ascending, the tips curved down; fertile stamens 3, sterile stamens 3, curved; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, unstalked; seeds black.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Brodiaea coronaria

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
289 122 825
Slope Gradient (%)
39 0 210

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

183 70 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 0 3
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
E
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
57
Modal BEC Zone Class
CDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CDF(2), CWH(1), PP(1)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry grassy slopes and rocky bluffs in the lowland and steppe zones; infrequent on SE Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and adjacent mainland (isolated population at Spences Bridge); S to CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia