Wayne's Word Index Noteworthy Plants Trivia Lemnaceae Biology 101 Botany Search    Brodiaeas In San Marcos     Brodiaea jolonensis?     Brodiaea elegans     Key To Brodiaeas     Index Of Brodiaea Pages  Staminode Variation in Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis On The Santa Rosa Plateau of Riverside County, Calif. Until a satisfactory name is applied to these populations, I will refer to southern California populations previously called "Brodiaea jolonensis" as "Coastal BTK" and mountain populations previously called "Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis" as "Montane BTK." The flower color for Brodiaea species on this page is blue-purple to violet. In the following images I have attempted to match their true color;  however, they may appear different on your monitor. The following images show the remarkable variation in staminodes of Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis on the Santa Rosa Plateau of Riverside County, California. They are within the Santa Rosa Ecological Reserve of the Nature Conservancy. The population includes staminodes that are erect and curved outward. They range from strap-shaped and toothed to hooded and slightly inrolled along margins. Some are inrolled along their entire length. The hooded staminodes are similar to populations of Coastal BTK in San Diego County. The erect, inrolled staminodes are similar to populations of Montane BTK in San Diego County. It seems that the Coastal BTK and Montane BTK merge into one variable population on the Santa Rosa Plateau. Variation in staminodes of BTK on the Santa Rosa Plateau of Riverside County. They range from strap-shaped and toothed to inrolled and slightly hooded. 1. Strap-shaped and Toothed Staminodes This appears to be a sterile hybrid between B. terrestris ssp. kernensis and B. santarosae. Note: The above image may be a hybrid between BTK and B. santarosae which grows intermixed in certain areas of the Santa Rosa Plateau. The flat (strap-shaped) staminodes have a slender (subulate) apex (white arrow). According to Tom Chester, anther sacs of these putative hybrids are devoid of pollen. 2. Inrolled & Slightly Hooded Staminodes Note: According to Tom Chester, the above flower type was the most common type observed in May 2006. He did not see the variation shown in the images on this page (taken in May 2005). His observations suggest that staminode shape might be related to rainfall or other variable environmental factors. 3. Inrolled & Outwardly Curved Staminodes 4. Hooded Staminodes Leaning Inward Toward Stamens 5. Staminodes Similar to Montane BTK of San Diego County Return To San Marcos Vernal Pool Article Return To WAYNE'S WORD Home Page Return To NOTEWORTHY PLANTS Page Go To Biology GEE WHIZ TRIVIA Page Go To The LEMNACEAE ON-LINE Page All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong