Fairy Wand, Devil's Bit, False Unicorn Root, Blazing Star, Grubroot, Squirrel Tail, Rattlesnake-root - Chamaelirium luteum
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Chamaelirium luteum - Fairy Wand, Devil's Bit, False Unicorn Root, Blazing Star, Grubroot, Squirrel Tail, Rattlesnake-root. Chamaelirium luteum is a dioecious, monotypic species of wet meadows and deciduous woods in the eastern part of the United States. It is officially listed as Endangered in Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Threatened in New York. It is variable listed in the following families: Liliaceae - the Lily family, Melanthiaceae - the False-Hellebore Family, or Helondiadaceae - the Swamp-pink Family, the latter ones being created by the redistribution of Liliaceae. Since ITIS places it in Melanthiaceae, and based on the inflorescence it seems suitable in that family, I will also include it there.
Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
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Distribution of Chamaelirium luteum in the United States and Canada:
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key
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| | Site: Long Branch Preserve, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-27 | Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D7000
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro | | The flowers of the staminate plant are in a long raceme which typically nods in the upper half. | | 
| | Site: Long Branch Preserve, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-27 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | Chamaelirium luteum is dioecious - male and female flowers are on separate plants. Both staminate and pistillate flowers have 6 white to greenish white tepals which yellow with age. The staminate blossoms, shown here, have 6 stamens as well. The pistillate plant has 3 pistils. Note that the stem in the inflorescence is white, or green turning white. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Long Branch Preserve, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-27 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | Fairy Wand grows to about 15 or 18 inches tall. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Long Branch Preserve, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-27 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The evergreen leaves are primarily in a basal rosette. The staminate plants may have as few as 5 or as many as 20 leaves; the pistillate plants will have 15 to 50 leaves. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
| | Site: Long Branch Preserve, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-May-27 | Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000 | | The cauline (stem) leaves are significantly smaller than the basal leaves. | | Click on the photo for a larger image
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References used for identification and information:
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