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Streptopus streptopoides (Lebed.) Frye & Rigg

Kruhsea; Little Twisted-stalk

Liliaceae (Lily family)

Synonyms: Streptopus brevipes Baker.

General Description: A small, unbranched forb, 10-20 cm tall, with coarsely fringed-ciliate at the nodes opposite the blade. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 cm long, and 1/3 to 1/2 as long. Flowers are borne singularly, 1-3 per stem, and nod from the leaf axils on slender peduncles 3-10 mm long. The greenish flowers are often tinged with purple, with individual tepals 3-4 mm long. The fruit is a few-seeded, nodding red berry.

Illustration.

Field Identification Tips: Low plants with a few nodding flowers that stem from the leaf axils.

Phenology: Flowers July-August.

Similar Species: Kruhsea resembles several other members of the lily family found in northern Idaho, although all tend to be larger in stature. Streptopus amplexifolius is branched and grows to over 1 m tall; Smilacina stellata has a terminal racemose inflorescence; and Disporum hookeri has branched stems and two flowers per node.

Habitat: Dense, coniferous mid-montane forests. In Idaho it generally occurs in old-growth western hemlock and western redcedar forests.

Global Distribution: In North America it occurs from Alaska south to the Cascade Mountains in Washington, east to eastern British Columbia and northern Idaho. It also occurs in Asia.

Idaho Distribution: Boundary and Bonner counties, especially in the northwestern portions of both counties.

References:

Bursik, R. J. 1992. Field investigations of sensitive plant taxa occurring on the Priest Lake Ranger District, Kanisku National Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Unpublished report prepared for the Panhandle National Forests by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 141 pp. plus appendices.