Hopefully the following discussion and images may explain the differences between B. elegans and other species of Brodiaea in San Diego County. In my opinion, the Jepson Manual key to Brodiaea species is somewhat confusing until you have seen all of the species. It is based on A Biosystematic Study of the Genus Brodiaea (Amaryllidaceae) by T. F. Niehaus, University of California Publications in Botany Volume 60, University of California Press, 1971.

In order to key out Brodiaea elegans, you must assume that staminodes (staminodia) are present and the perianth lobes are ascending. For "widely spreading" perianth lobes see Brodiaea filifolia at the following link.

The perianth tube is not narrowed above the ovary and the staminodes are clearly narrower than the perianth segments, so B. pallida and B. stellaris can be ruled out. The staminodes are wider at base and not wavy, therefore B. appendiculata and B. californica can be ruled out.

This brings us to the couplets at line 14 in the Jepson Manual key page 1180 (3rd printing, 1996): Staminodes standing away from stamens; perianth tube funnel-shaped; OR 14' Staminodes leaning in toward stamens; perianth bell-shaped. B. elegans definitely has staminodes that are widely separated from the stamens and a perianth tube that is funnel-shaped rather than bell-shaped. We also have a brodiaea in San Diego County that fits the couplet "stamens leaning in toward stamens."

The following image is B. jolonensis from Monterey County. I am virtually positive that this species is identified correctly. In the Jepson Manual this species keys out under 14': "The staminodes leaning in toward stamens." I wouldn't use the word "leaning," but there is a slight inward curve toward the stamens. This staminode position not only fits B. jolonensis, it also fits B. terrestris and B. coronaria.

The following CalPhotos images show B. elegans with widely spreading staminodes and B. terrestris with staminodes leaning inward toward stamens:

CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea elegans CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea terrestris All of the Coastal BTK that I have examined in coastal San Diego County have staminodes with an inward curvature at the apex (hooded) that is similar to B. jolonensis. Their relative position to the stamens is about the same as B. jolonensis. They are closer to the stamens than B. elegans. Under the description for B. terrestris kernensis, the Jepson Manual includes the statement: "Staminodes leaning inward slightly but held away from stamens." See the following images of Coastal BTK in coastal San Diego County. The apices of all staminodes are curved inwardly, a characteristic referred to as "hooded." Coastal BTK in San Marcos. Coastal BTK on Otay Mesa. Coastal BTK and Pogogyne abramsii on Kearny Mesa. Another Image Of Coastal BTK on Kearny Mesa Coastal BTK in the Ramona vernal pool area. Brodiaea populations in the Laguna and Cuyamaca Mountans have staminodes that are erect and inrolled along margins. They appear different from populations of Coastal BTK because the staminodes are generally not hooded. In B. coronaria the staminodes are strongly inrolled along margins but they lean inward toward the stamens. The San Diego mountain populations have staminodes that are erect and held away from the stamens. In B. elegans the staminodes are more widely separated from the stamens and they are approximately the same length as stamens. Staminodes in the mountain populations are clearly longer than the stamens. In addition, flowers of the Laguna and Cuyamaca populations do not resemble the CalPhoto images of B. coronaria or B. elegans. It is possible that these mountain populations more closely resemble the true B. terrestris ssp. kernensis of Kern and Tulare Counties; however, they do not have the dentate anther connective described by Niehaus for B. terrestris. Instead they have a prominent V-shaped or U-shaped notch in the anther connective as in Coastal BTK. Until we understand their taxonomic relationship with the true ssp. kernensis of Kern and Tulare Counties, we are calling the southern California populations Coastal BTK and Montane BTK. Montane BTK in the Laguna Mountains. The staminodes are erect and inrolled along margins; however, they are not curved inward at the apex (hooded) as in coastal San Diego populations of Coastal BTK. Montane BTK at Cuyamaca Lake (17 June 2005). The staminodes are erect and hooded as in coastal San Diego populations of Coastal BTK. The following CalPhotos image of B. elegans shows flat staminodes that are not inrolled and are standing away from the stamens. CalPhotos apparantly does not have the inrolled B. elegans ssp. hooveri. In the above image the inrolled staminodes are in the same relative position as B. terrestris. Their shape and position more closely resembles the CalPhoto images of B terrestris than B. coronaria. CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea elegans CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea coronaria CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea coronaria CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea terrestris CalPhotos Image of Brodiaea terrestris Montane BTK in the Laguna Mountains. At this time, I am at a loss to explain the differences in the Brodiaea populations from the Laguna and Cuyamaca Mountains compared with coastal San Diego populations of BTK. Although they both have the V-shaped or U-shaped anther connective, Montane BTK lacks the minute lobe at the base of the notch that is found in some populations of Coastal BTK. Mountain populations generally lack the hooded apex of staminodes typical of Coastal BTK. In addition, the floral tube appears slightly more funnel-shaped than bell-shaped. Perhaps mountain populations are more representative of the trueB. terrestris ssp. kernensis described for central California. Until we understand the taxonomy of true ssp. kernensis of Kern and Tulare Counties, we are calling the southern California populations Coastal BTK and Montane BTK. With the exception of B. filifolia, B. orcuttii and B. elegans, the only other possible coastal brodiaeas for San Diego County are Coastal BTK and B. jolonensis. I believe B. jolonensis can be ruled out because no coastal brodiaeas have its characteristic purple ovary, and the vascular pattern of inner perianth segments is not characteristic of B. jolonensis. Based on the vascular pattern of Niehaus #662 collected on Otay Mesa, we believe this species is also Coastal BTK rather than B. jolonensis. Flowers of Brodiaea jolonensis from Monterey County showing the distinctive purple ovaries. According to Niehaus (1971), this is the only species of Brodiaea in California with purple ovaries. In fact, no populations of Montane BTK or Coastal BTK in San Diego County have ovaries this color. The use of purple ovary color to identify Brodiaea jolonensis ideally applies to fresh flowers. Ovaries of other species in dried herbarium specimens often turn purplish-brown. The left photo of Brodiaea ovaries was taken from herbarium specimens all collected in San Marcos. A. Coastal BTK; B. San Marcos hybrid? brodiaea; C. Brodiaea filifolia. Close-up view of the anthers of Coastal BTK (previously labeled B. jolonensis) from the San Marcos vernal pool area showing details of the adaxial side of the anther connective (anther axis). A and B show a minute "dentate" lobe in the apical notch of the anther connective (red arrows). C has a reduced lobe and in D there is practically no visible lobe. The minute lobe at the base of the notch is formed by a proliferation (elongation) of the connective tissue. The presence of this "dentate" lobe and green ovary indicates this species is Coastal BTK rather than B. jolonensis. Unfortunately, this "dentate" lobe does not show up in all samples of Coastal BTK. The term "dentate connective" is clearly evident in B. terrestris ssp. terrestris of central and northern California, but does not appear that useful in southern California populations of BTK. Dentate Connective of Coastal BTK Chromosome Numbers Of The San Marcos Brodiaea

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