ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Aletris farinosa
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    LILIALES
 FAMILY:   LILIACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Aletris farinosa
 AUTHORITY:  L.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    COLIC ROOT
    STAR GRASS
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: ALFA2
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     PRAIRIE
       SAND PRAIRIE
         MESIC
       LISTED
         CHARACTERISTIC
     CULTURAL
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:
     Northeastern Morainal
        Lake Michigan Dunes
        Chicago Lake Plain
        listed
 
 COUNTIES:
   COOK            GRUNDY          IROQUOIS        KANKAKEE        LAKE
   LEE             WILL            WINNEBAGO
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate    Basal
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear   Lanceolate   Oblanceolate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Raceme  Spike
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   White
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Epigynous
    FRUIT:   Capsule
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     Flowers noted for their rough surfaces.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Uncommon
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      6         MONTH END-      8
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Under somewhat open total vegetation, as with temporary succession; more sterile
     sands.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     GROWTH OF SPECIES IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS:
          GRAVEL         No data entered    SAND           Good
          SANDY LOAM     No data entered    LOAM           No data entered
          CLAY LOAM      No data entered    CLAY           No data entered
          DENSE CLAY     No data entered    ORGANIC SOIL   No data entered
          NEUTRAL pH     No data entered    ACIDIC SOIL    Good
          EXTREMELY ACID No data entered    SALINE SOIL    No data entered
          SODIC SOIL     No data entered    SODIC-SALINE   No data entered
          ROCKY OUTCROPS No data entered    GENTLE SLOPES  No data entered
          MODERATE SLOPE No data entered    STEEP SLOPES   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:    No data entered
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     May be poisonous.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:   No data entered
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Schwegman, J. E., G. D. Fell, M. Hutchison, G. Paulson, W. M. Shepherd, and
     J. White.  1973.  Comprehensive plan for the Illinois Nature Preserves
     System.  Part 2 - The Natural Divisions of Illinois.  Illinois Nature
     Preserves Commission, Springfield.  32 pp., plus map.
White, J., and M. H. Madany.  1978.  Classification of natural communities in
     Illinois.  Pages 309-405 in J. White, ed., Illinois natural areas
     inventory technical report.  Vol. 1.  Survey methods and results.
     Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Pammel, L.H. 1911.  A Manual of Poisonus Plants.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Aletris farinosa
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015