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Yellow Fairybells, Yellow Mandarin - Prosartes lanuginosa


Family: Colchicaceae - Meadow Saffron Family Genus Common Name: Fairybells Native Status: Native
Prosartes lanuginosa - Yellow Fairybells, Yellow Mandarin. Disporum lanuginosum is a synonym of Prosartes lanuginosa, the commonly accepted scientific name for this species. I updated USWildflowers.com to use Prosartes on June 6, 2016. The five species of the genus Disporum that are in North America have recently been reclassified into a separate genus - Prosartes - and moved into the Liliaceae family out of the Colchicaceae family.

Yellow Fairybells is an attractive plant growing to 36" tall, with alternating, glossy green entire leaves which are ovate or lanceolate and have prominent parallel veins.

Journal Articles Referencing Fairybells

Leave comments on Prosartes lanuginosa at this link.
Prosartes lanuginosa

Distribution of Prosartes lanuginosa in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2008-April-13Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
There are usually 2 blossoms at the end of the stem. While the pedical arises from above the stem, they normally dangle below the the leaves. A similar species, Prosartes maculata, has white petals with dark speckles on them.
Prosartes lanuginosa
Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2009-March-26Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/125f/5.6 ISO100
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
The blossom of fairybells has greenish petals and sepals (3 each) which turn more yellow as they mature. The large yellow anthers are prominent on these 3/4-inch blossoms, which grow from the opposing terminal leaves. The other leaves are alternating.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Prosartes lanuginosa
Site: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA Date: 2012-August-26Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Fruit of Prosartes lanuginosa.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Prosartes lanuginosa
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Prosartes lanuginosa initially published on USWildflowers.com 2008-12-31; Updated 2016-06-06

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