Figueroa Mtn 1

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Brodiaea Index

Brodiaea Key

Santa Barbara BTK

Kern County BTK

San Marcos BTK

San Luis Obispo BTT

BTK Citations

1. Brodiaeas On Figueroa Mtn & Gaviota Pass

2. Wildflowers On Figueroa Mtn & Gaviota Pass

1. Brodiaeas On Figueroa Mountain & Gaviota Pass

Harvest Brodiaea: Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis (BTK complex)
© W.P. Armstrong 30 May 2009

Introduction: Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis (BTK), including coastal & montane forms, is a widespread species complex that extends from Santa Barbara and Kern Counties to the Mexican border. Data from Principal Components Analysis (PCA) thus far indicate that BTK is one variable species that does not warrant segregation. BTK consists of variable populations on the Santa Rosa Plateau of Riverside County and at Cuyamaca Lake and Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. Fertile clonal variants have hooded staminodes, staminodes that are flattened and strap-shaped or inrolled along upper margins, and narrow staminodes that are tapered toward the apex. In addition, the staminodes may be erect, leaning slightly outward or leaning inward.

Whether the anther connectives of BTK have a dentate appendage or V-shaped notch is also quite variable, particularly in Kern County populations. This trait is of no value in identifying populations of BTK, contrary to its use in the Jepson Manual (1993) and Niehaus (1971) keys; however, a dentate connective is fairly consistent in populations of B. terrestris ssp. terrestris (BTT) in San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. In general, populations of BTK in southern California lack a well-defined dentate connective; however, this trait occurs in some Kern County populations.

This species is often referred to as "harvest brodiaea" or "earth brodiaea." It occurs in grasslands of central and southern California and its flowering time coincides with the annual hay harvest, when the grasses have turned golden brown. The specific epithet "terrestris" refers to the short flower stalks (scapes) and the close proximity of the flowers to the earth (ground). This is especially true of ssp. terrestris that occurs north of Santa Barbara County.

Table Showing Different Synonymous Literature Citations For BTK (See Red Boxes)

The flower color for Brodiaea species on this page is blue-purple to violet. I have attempted to match their natural color in the field; however, they may appear different on your monitor. Cameras used: Sony T-9 & T-10 plus Nikon D-40x with Micro-Nikkor 60mm macro and 18-200 zoom.

Figueroa Mountain Road

Views of grassland from Figueroa Mountain Road.

A young Crotalus viridus crossing Figueroa Mountain Road.

The Last BTK Flowers of Spring 2009

Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis with small pollinator bee of the family Megachilidae.

Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis in grassland along Figuera Mtn Road. This was one of the last blooms of the season during the drought year of 2009. The white, erect staminodes are slightly inrolled along upper margin and slightly hooded, well within the range of variability for the BTK complex. The ovary was green, unlike purple ovaries of B. jolonensis in Monterey County.

See BTK in San Marcos With White Staminodes
Staminode Variation Of BTK At Camp Pendleton
Staminode Variation Of BTK At Cuyamaca Lake
Staminode Variation On The Santa Rosa Plateau

Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis from Otay Mesa in southern San Diego County. The white staminodes are slightly hooded, like populations of BTK in Santa Barbara County. Staminodes in this populaton are also purple and conspicuously hooded. Niehaus (1971) reported B. jolonensis on Otay Mesa. The chromosome number and vascular strand pattern on inner perianth segments fit coaastal BTK rather than B.jolonensis

Niehaus' Collection #662 On Otay Mesa

Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis in grassland along Figuera Mtn Road. This was a severe (D-2) drought year and the plants were very short with scapes only two inches (5 cm) tall. This species produces numerous cormlets that are packed into the hard, clay soil like peanuts in chunks of chocolate.

Above Gaviota Pass

Overlook Fire Road on a ridge south of Gaviota Pass during the severe spring drought of 2009. The dense annual grasses include Avena, Lolium, Phalaris and Bromus. Only a few BTK plants were found along the road in the heavy clay soil. Brodiaea flowers are much more common during years with favorable spring rains. Numerous BTK plants were reported following a fire in this area when all the naturalized grasses were removed.

The Last BTK Flowers of Spring 2009

Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis above Gaviota Pass. This was one of the last blooms of the season during the drought year of 2009. The white, hooded staminodes are slightly bent outward, and are well within the range of variability for the BTK complex. The ovary was green, unlike purple ovaries of B. jolonensis in Monterey County. In addition, the number of vascular strands for inner perianth segments are typical of BTK (see following links). [Uppermost image: Nikon D-40x with Nikkor 60mm macro without flash; lower 2 images: Sony T-9 with built-in flash.]

BTK High Above Gaviota Pass In May 2006
BTK in San Marcos With White Staminodes

Staminode Variation Of BTK At Camp Pendleton
Staminode Variation Of BTK At Cuyamaca Lake
Staminode Variation On The Santa Rosa Plateau

Vascular Strands of BTK and Brodiaea jolonensis

Microscopic view of the inner perianth segment of a BTK flower from above Gaviota Pass. Inner perianth segments of Brodiaea species have three primary vascular bundles each subdivided into one or more "strands" of xylem tissue. Each strand is composed of vessels with spirally thickened secondary cell walls. Niehaus (1971) describes only one strand per bundle in B. jolonensis, a total of three strands (1-1-1 pattern). Whatever Niehaus meant by the term "strand," there are certainly more than one strand per bundle in the above image. In fact, there are at least nine strands. According to Niehaus, BTK has three strands per bundle, a total of nine strands (3-3-3 pattern). Under the microscope, it is often necessary to move along the midrib of the perianth segment to see where each primary bundle separates into multiple strands. In dried herbarium specimens, the strands often become broken or distorted, especially if the segment is wrinkled or creased. The bottom line here is that B. jolonensis has fewer vascular strands, typically three or four. Perianth segment cleared in 10% NaOH and stained with safranin. (Magnification 200 x).

Microscopic view of the inner perianth segment of a Brodiaea jolonensis flower from Monterey County. Depending on where you focus along the midrib, there are 3-5 vascular strands. In the above image, vascular bundle number 3 has split into a 4th strand, which has divided into two strands. According to Niehaus, some species of Brodiaea can be identified by their vascular strand pattern. Although his 1-1-1 pattern for B. jolonensis is difficult to verify, the inner perianth segments of B. jolonensis consistently have fewer vascular strands than BTK. (Magnification 300 x).

Microscopic view of the inner perianth segment of Brodiaea jolonensis showing three vascular strands, each strand composed of vessels with spirally thickened secondary cell walls. A fourth strand of vessels (not shown) branched out from the lower strand.(Magnification 400 x).

References

Hickman, J.C. 1993, Editor. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Niehaus, T.F. 1971. "A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Brodiaea (Amaryllidaceae)." University of California Publications in Botany 60: 1-67.

Smith, Clifton F. 1976. A Flora of the Santa Barbara Region, California. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Watson, Lynn. 2009. NatureShutterbug: Images of Figueroa Mountain Wildflowers." Available at: http://natureshutterbug.com/wordpress/. Accessed 30 May 2009.

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