Tofieldia pusilla : False Asphodel, Scottish Asphodel

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
  • Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
  • Angiospermae (enclosed seeds)

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Genera: Tofieldia

(Named for Thomas Tofield an English botanist)

Species: pusilla

(Lat. pusillus=diminutive of pusio= boy= little boy)

English Name(s):

False/ Scottish Asphodel

Gwich'in Name:

Structure:

• Stems green, leafless save for perhaps one poorly developed leaf near base.

Leaves:

• Basal (from stem base), numerous, densly tufted, never longer than 10cm,

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowers in terminal raceme clusters, spherical to cylindrical.
• Tepals (petals+sepals) 1.5-3mm long, yellow-white to white-greenish, persistent (long lasting).
• Flowers are slightly honey-scented.

Seed:

• Friuts are many seeded capsules with 3 cavities spliting open down the centre of each cavity.
• Seed capsules green to straw-coloured 1.5-3mm long, erect.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Tofieldia coccina

Physiology:

• Herbacious

Life Cycle:

• perennial from root stock

Seasonal Cycle:

• Blooming in mid-July
• Stems and leaves deciduous

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Moist calcareous places, tundra, conifer woods

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• Asphodel was the name of a legendary immortal plant which clothed the Elysian fields of the Roman gods.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: