Turkey-beard, mountain-asphodel

Helonias asphodeloides Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1: 485. 1762

Stems (0.5–)0.8–1(–1.5) m. Leaf blade 3–5 dm × 1–2.5 mm. Racemes 1.5–3 dm. Tepals oblong to ovate, 5–8 × 2–3 mm; styles 1.5–2 mm. Capsules 4–5.5 mm. Seeds 2 per locule. 2n = 30.

Flowering spring--early summer. Pine barrens and dry mountain woods; 0--1400 m; Ala., Del., Ga., Ky., Md., N.J., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Xerophyllum asphodeloides is disjunct from the xeric oak-hickory forests of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains to the dry sandy soils of the pine barrens of New Jersey (L. Artz 1951; W. B. Zomlefer 1997b). Xerophia, a unique alkaloid, has been reported from this species (W. Procter 1839).