Erythronium klamathense
Encyclopedia
Erythronium klamathense is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family
known by the common name Klamath fawn lily. It is native to northern California
and southern Oregon
, where it grows in the Klamath Mountains
and the southernmost peaks of the Cascade Range
.
and producing generally two wavy-edged, narrow leaves up to 17 centimeters long. The inflorescence
arises on an erect stalk up to 20 centimeters tall, with one to three flowers per stalk. The flower has tepal
s 2 or 3 centimeters long which are white with yellow bases, turning pinkish with age. The long, protruding stamen
s have large pale yellow anthers.
Liliaceae
The Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
known by the common name Klamath fawn lily. It is native to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where it grows in the Klamath Mountains
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
and the southernmost peaks of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
.
Description
It is a perennial wildflower growing from a bulbBulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
and producing generally two wavy-edged, narrow leaves up to 17 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
arises on an erect stalk up to 20 centimeters tall, with one to three flowers per stalk. The flower has tepal
Tepal
Tepals are elements of the perianth, or outer part of a flower, which include the petals or sepals. The term tepal is more often applied specifically when all segments of the perianth are of similar shape and color, or undifferentiated, which is called perigone...
s 2 or 3 centimeters long which are white with yellow bases, turning pinkish with age. The long, protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s have large pale yellow anthers.