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Sclerochiton odoratissimus
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Hakea epiglottis
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April 18, 2007 : Erythronium americanum
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Keywords: Liliaceae | Erythronium americanum Ker-Gawl. | Delaware, USA
Another thank you to David Smith of Delaware for sharing a photograph with us of one of Delaware's native wildflowers (posted in this thread on the BPotD Submissions forum). Appreciated once again, David.
Common names for this eastern North American species include trout lily, American adder's tongue (a reference to the leaves) and dogtooth violet (a reference to the bulbs); an expanded explanation of the common names can be found on the Kemper Center for Home Gardening page for the plant.
Like many woodland understorey plants in eastern North America, Erythronium americanum produces leaves and flowers early in the spring, prior to the canopy trees flushing with leaves. This temporal adaptation is a method to maximize growth when light is most available to the plant, despite the cool temperatures associated with early spring. As it turns out, though, plant growth is optimal at cooler temperature regimes: see Lapointe, L and Lerat S. 2006. Annual growth of the spring ephemeral Erythronium americanum as a function of temperature and mycorrhizal status. Canadian Journal of Botany. 84:39-48. The researchers found that bulb biomass was increased for the set of plants exposed to a lower temperature regime (and that net nutrient uptake was not reduced for this set).
A scientific description of the genus Erythronium and Erythronium americanum can be found in the Flora of North America, while Missouri Plants has more photographs of the species and a shorter description.
Botany / horticulture resource link: I've linked to this site in a few previous entries, but not as a resource link – California Rare Fruit Growers “is the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world”. That 2007 Festival of the Fruit in San Diego is looking very appealing...! The site provides a number of excellent resources, including fruit factsheets.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at April 18, 2007 6:00 AM
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Posted by: Meg Bernstein at April 18, 2007 7:02 AM
I had these on my property also, however the flowers were white and I think the whole plant may be smaller. They were also in a non-wooded area.
Susanne (SW Missouri)
Posted by: Susanne at April 18, 2007 7:11 AM
Erythronium americanum - Z3 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Erythronium americanum - Z3-9 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Erythronium americanum - Z3-8 - Kemper Center for Home Gardening
Posted by: Beverley at April 18, 2007 7:50 AM
I had a class with a naturalist that runs the Gorman Nature Center (http://www.lexington-oh.com/gormannature/) in Lexington OH, and I remember when he discussed this flower he mentioned that the common name trout lily derives from the leaves (because of their troutish appearance) and that the other common name (adder's tongue) is better understood after the petals fall from the flower revealing the expanding ovary beneath connected to the stigma of the flower giving a snake-like appearance. I don't know if this is something that is dating back to the Doctrine of Signatures, but I'm sure they are somehow related. I really enjoy this site, keep it up!
Posted by: Justin Whitehill at April 18, 2007 1:14 PM
Thank you very much for this lovely image and the great story to match it. I am from the southern hemisphere and I love to hear about plants from other parts of the world and the ways they survive and thrive.
Posted by: Katy Sommerville at April 18, 2007 4:01 PM
Thanks for the picture and informaton. I'm from NB, Canada and have seen them for years along the lovely Bellisle Bay, an inlet off the Saint John River. They are one of the very first shows of colour in spring followed by the explosion of Fiddleheads common to this ares. Striking spring beauties.
Posted by: Carl Boyd at May 13, 2007 5:44 PM
hey this is sweet i got the info. i needed
Posted by: Chinni at December 10, 2007 3:26 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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These grow in our Adirondack yard, but we won't seem them for several weeks. Thanks for the preview!