(Prosartes smithii)
Prosartes smithii is a North American species of flowering plants known by the common name largeflower fairybells. It is native to western North America from Vancouver Island in British Columbia south as far as Monterey County in California. It grows in shady forest and woodland, including redwood forests. Prosartes smithii is an erect, branching perennial herb growing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall. Its narrow, fuzzy stems bear wide, oval-shaped, pointed leaves up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long and mostly hairless. The inflorescence produces up to seven drooping, hanging flowers which may be hidden in the cover of the large leaves. The flower is cylindrical to bell-shaped with six white to green-tinged tepals each up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. The fruit is an oval-shaped orange or red berry just over 1 cm (0.4 in) long. Prosartes, the fairybells, is a North American genus of flowering plants in the lily family. For several decades plants of this genus were considered part of the otherwise Asian genus Disporum. Studies of morphology and cytology, as well as genetic analysis, show these North American plants to be different from the Asian species, and in 1995 the two groups began to be recognized as distinct genera. Prosartes included five species until 2010, when a sixth, Prosartes parvifolia, long considered a variant of Prosartes hookeri, or perhaps a hybrid, was acknowledged as a distinct species. These plants are rhizomatous herbs with bell-like pendent (hanging) flowers. Prosartes, the fairybells, is a North American genus of flowering plants in the lily family. For several decades plants of this genus were considered part of the otherwise Asian genus Disporum. Studies of morphology and cytology, as well as genetic analysis, show these North American plants to be different from the Asian species, and in 1995 the two groups began to be recognized as distinct genera. Prosartes included five species until 2010, when a sixth, Prosartes parvifolia, long considered a variant of Prosartes hookeri, or perhaps a hybrid, was acknowledged as a distinct species. These plants are rhizomatous herbs with bell-like pendent (hanging) flowers.