Family - Liliaceae

Stems - Bulb. Scape to +50cm tall, 3-4mm in diameter, glabrous, single.

Leaves - Basal, linear, +/-1cm broad, +30cm long, glabrous, entire, dull green above, shiny deep green below.

Inflorescence - Indeterminate raceme terminating scape, 15-16cm long (tall), with +/-40 flowers. Flower pedicels subtended by thin bract to +1cm long.

Flowers - Perianth to 2cm broad, rotate, nectariferous. Pedicels to 1cm long, elongating in fruit, glabrous. Tepals to 1cm long, 3-5mm broad, linear-oblong, white with lilac tinge, glabrous. Stamens 6, borne at base of tepals. Filaments 6mm long, glabrous. Anthers yellow, 3mm long, 1.2mm broad. Ovary superior, glabrous, 3mm long, ovoid, with 3 locules, many seeded, placentation axile. Style 3mm long, glabrous, white. Stigma 3-lobed.

Flower close-up.

Flowering - April - May.

Habitat - Open woods, stream banks, glades, prairies, fields, roadsides.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This is a very abundant plant throughout most of the state. It doesn't bloom for very long though so see it while you can.
The perianth is variable in color and I could have placed the plant in the blue flowers section of this site also. I think the perianth is normally more whitish than blue.

Photographs taken off Highway 70, Callaway County, MO., 5-3-04.