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Idaho Mountain Wildflowers

Lily Family: Liliaceae (page 4 of 6)

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The Glacier Lily, Erythronium grandiflorum var. grandiflorum is--like the closely related yellow fritillaria, Fritillaria pudica--a herald of spring. As the photograph shows, it looks like a lily with bent back ("reflexed") tepals. Glacier lilies are found through much the Northwest and into the adjacent Canadian provinces. As with other well-loved plants, this one enjoys many common names: glacier lily, avalanche lily, trout lily, dog-tooth violet, fawn lily, adder's tongue and others. It is a common in northern Idaho, although we have not seen it growing further south than the Lemhi Pass (30 miles south-east of Salmon). Lewis and Clark collected the glacier lily near their Kooskooskee (Clearwater) River campsite on May 8, 1806 and later on the Lolo Trail. It must have been a cheery sign of spring and snowmelt in the mountains that would let them resume their journey eastward. This plant is found throughout the Northwest and into California, a related white variety, var. candidum, grows only in northern Idaho, Washington and Montana.
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Western Trillium (or Western Wakerobin), Trillium ovatum. The western wakerobin, or trillium is another of our very early spring flowers, often blooming while still surrounded by banks of snow. It is found at all elevations to high in the mountains, wherever the ground is wet or boggy. The scientific name "ovatum" refers to its ovoid leaves (basically oval, but with a point). The term "wakerobin," used originally for eastern trilliums refers to the simultaneous appearance of the first robins in the spring. There is considerable variation in plant size from place to place--the plants tend to be larger at lower elevations. We have not seen trilliums growing south of the Clearwater River drainage in Idaho. The flowers are alway pure white after blooming, and then turn pink and finally light purple as they mature. Meriwether Lewis collected the western trillium on the same day and place that he found the checker lily, Fritillaria affinis, on Brant Island in the Columbia River on April 10, 1806. Another trillium, the Purple trillium, Trillium petiolatum, was also collected by Lewis and Clark while on the Lolo Trail (June 15, 1806). It is not common and as yet we have been unable to locate a plant to photograph.

Star-flowered Solomon's Plume (False Solomon’s Seal, Wild Lily of the Valley) Maianthemum stellatum, (formerly Smilacina stellata, right). The generic name, Maianthemum comes from the Greek words for "May" and "flower", for their blooming time; the species name, stellata ="star-shaped" These plants prefer moisture and shade and commonly grow in forests, and other moist situations. Deep green, parallel-veined leaves and a spray of small star-shaped, six-tepaled white flowers make it easy to identify. These mature into green berries that turn red as they ripen. The very similar Western Solomon-plume, Maianthemum racemosum, (formerly Smilacina racemosa, left) is another common false Solomon's seal, similar in appearance and with the same preferences. It differs from M. stellatum in that its flowers are in a "panicle," formed when secondary stems branch into smaller flower bearing stemlets ("pedicels"). The flowers have much smaller tepals.

The Western stenanthium, Stenanthium occidentale is another lily, that prefers moist places--stream banks, moist meadows, shaded rocky crevices and similar locations. It is the only species in this genus found in the west (another species, grows in the eastern United States), where it is native to the four northwestern states, south into the mountains of northern California, and Canadian provinces British Columbia, Alberta . We have encountered it only in the northern part of Idaho. Dainty little lily-like nodding flowers, with six recurved tepals are borne on downward-curving stemlet. These come off at intervals along a slender stem. Several moderately wide, parallel-veined leaves surround the base of the plant. Its appearance is unique and so it is easily identified at first sight. Stenanthium is derived from two Greek words meaning "narrow flower," apparently for their small size. The common name "western featherbells" has been suggested for the plant.

The Clasping-leaf twisted-stalk, Streptopus amplexicaulis, is also found in moist, shaded situations. It is easily identified by its stem, for it zigszags from one leaf node to the next. (Streptopus, comes from two Greek words meaning "twisted foot") The leaves clasp the stem, a trait responsible for both common and scientific names (Latin amplexicaulis = "embrace" + "stem"). The little flowers with their reflexed petals are similar to those of several other plants shown here. These ripen into oval red berries, one under each leaf, (right), variously described both as poisonous and as edible (!). The plant is widely distributed throughout the western states and across the northern part of the continent. While all of the plants shown on this page may grow at lower altitudes, they are also commonly found at higher elevations in our mountains.

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The Glacier Lily, Erythronium grandiflorum var. grandiflorum is--like the closely related yellow fritillaria, Fritillaria pudica--a herald of spring. As the photograph shows, it looks like a lily with bent back ("reflexed") tepals. Glacier lilies are found through much the Northwest and into the adjacent Canadian provinces. As with other well-loved plants, this one enjoys many common names: glacier lily, avalanche lily, trout lily, dog-tooth violet, fawn lily, adder's tongue and others. It is a common in northern Idaho, although we have not seen it growing further south than the Lemhi Pass (30 miles south-east of Salmon). Lewis and Clark collected the glacier lily near their Kooskooskee (Clearwater) River campsite on May 8, 1806 and later on the Lolo Trail. It must have been a cheery sign of spring and snowmelt in the mountains that would let them resume their journey eastward. This plant is found throughout the Northwest and into California, a related white variety, var. candidum, grows only in northern Idaho, Washington and Montana.
Western Trillium (or Western Wakerobin), Trillium ovatum. The western wakerobin, or trillium is another of our very early spring flowers, often blooming while still surrounded by banks of snow. It is found at all elevations to high in the mountains, wherever the ground is wet or boggy. The scientific name "ovatum" refers to its ovoid leaves (basically oval, but with a point). The term "wakerobin," used originally for eastern trilliums refers to the simultaneous appearance of the first robins in the spring. There is considerable variation in plant size from place to place--the plants tend to be larger at lower elevations. We have not seen trilliums growing south of the Clearwater River drainage in Idaho. The flowers are alway pure white after blooming, and then turn pink and finally light purple as they mature. Meriwether Lewis collected the western trillium on the same day and place that he found the checker lily, Fritillaria affinis, on Brant Island in the Columbia River on April 10, 1806. Another trillium, the Purple trillium, Trillium petiolatum, was also collected by Lewis and Clark while on the Lolo Trail (June 15, 1806). It is not common and as yet we have been unable to locate a plant to photograph.
	Star-flowered Solomon's Plume (False Solomon’s Seal, Wild Lily of the Valley) Maianthemum stellatum, (formerly Smilacina stellata, right). The generic name, Maianthemum comes from the Greek words for "May" and "flower", for their blooming time; the species name, stellata ="star-shaped" These plants prefer moisture and shade and commonly grow in forests, and other moist situations. Deep green, parallel-veined leaves and a spray of small star-shaped, six-tepaled white flowers make it easy to identify. These mature into green berries that turn red as they ripen. The very similar Western Solomon-plume, *Maianthemum racemosum, (formerly Smilacina racemosa, left) is another common false Solomon's seal, similar in appearance and with the same preferences. It differs from M. stellatum* in that its flowers are in a "panicle," formed when secondary stems branch into smaller flower bearing stemlets ("pedicels"). The flowers have much smaller tepals.
The Western stenanthium, Stenanthium occidentale is another lily, that prefers moist places--stream banks, moist meadows, shaded rocky crevices and similar locations. It is the only species in this genus found in the west (another species, grows in the eastern United States), where it is native to the four northwestern states, south into the mountains of northern California, and Canadian provinces British Columbia, Alberta . We have encountered it only in the northern part of Idaho. Dainty little lily-like nodding flowers, with six recurved tepals are borne on downward-curving stemlet. These come off at intervals along a slender stem. Several moderately wide, parallel-veined leaves surround the base of the plant. Its appearance is unique and so it is easily identified at first sight. Stenanthium is derived from two Greek words meaning "narrow flower," apparently for their small size. The common name "western featherbells" has been suggested for the plant.
	The Clasping-leaf twisted-stalk, Streptopus amplexicaulis, is also found in moist, shaded situations. It is easily identified by its stem, for it zigszags from one leaf node to the next. (Streptopus, comes from two Greek words meaning "twisted foot") The leaves clasp the stem, a trait responsible for both common and scientific names (Latin amplexicaulis = "embrace" + "stem"). The little flowers with their reflexed petals are similar to those of several other plants shown here. These ripen into oval red berries, one under each leaf, (right), variously described both as poisonous and as edible (!). The plant is widely distributed throughout the western states and across the northern part of the continent. While all of the plants shown on this page may grow at lower altitudes, they are also commonly found at higher elevations in our mountains.