Mather Field Vernal Pools

Beatrice F. Howitt, © California Academy of Sciences

	common name	Soap Plant or Soaproot

	scientific name	Chlorogalum pomeridianum

	family	Liliaceae (lily)

	habitat	grassland

	size	cluster of leaves 1 foot or more across, flower 1.5 to 2.5 cm

	fun facts	Native Americans used the root of this plant as a soap and to stun fish. It contains chemicals which make it slippery like soap. These same chemicals paralyze the gills of fish.

	description	Member of the lily family. The flowers have three petals and three sepals which are similarly colored and appear to be six petals. The flowers are white or pale pink. The leaves are in a bunch at the base of the plant (a basal rosette) and have wavy edges.

life cycle

Soap Plant is a bulb-forming perennial. For most of the year, the plant consists of a cluster of leaves about a foot in diameter. In May, the plant sends up a tall stalk with many branches and delicate flowers.

ecology

Flowers are pollinated by night flying moths and open just as the sun goes down. They are very fragrant in order to attract their pollinators which are flying around in the dark of night. Try visiting at sunset to see and smell the Soap Plant flowers.

investigate

Caterpillars of the moth that pollinates the Soap Plant eat the flowers and seeds of the plant. They usually feed very early in the morning and crawl to the bottom of the plant during the heat of the day. Can you find evidence of their feeding?