Fritillaria eastwoodiae Macfarlane
Family: Liliaceae
Butte County Missionbells
[Fritillaria phaeanthera Eastw.]
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Bulb scales: large 2-5; small 10-60. Stem 2-8 dm. Leaves in 1-2 whorls of 3-5 leaves per node proximally, alternate distally, 5-10 cm, usually shorter than inflorescence; blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, ± glaucous; distal leaves usually ± equaling proximalmost leaf. Flowers nodding; tepals pale greenish yellow to red, narrowly elliptic, 1-1.7 cm, apex usually flared to slightly recurved; nectaries green, gold, or yellow, lanceolate, less than 1/3 tepal length; style obviously branched for less than 1/2 its length, branches barely recurved, longer than 1.5 mm. Capsules angled. 2n = 24, 34, 36.

Flowering Apr--May. Dry benches and slopes, sometimes on serpentine, in chaparral or beneath conifers; 500--1500 m; Calif., Oreg.

This species is highly variable and shows evidence of either being of hybrid origin between Fritillaria recurva and F. micrantha, or, if it is of separate origin, appearing to hybridize easily with those two species. In the northern part of its range, F. eastwoodiae intergrades with F. recurva, whereas in the southern part of its range it intergrades with F. micrantha. Occasional individuals throughout the range display traits of both F. recurva and F. micrantha.