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September 17, 2008 : Fritillaria meleagris
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Plant Family / Families: Liliaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Fritillaria meleagris L.
Name Location: cultivated in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
For local readers, three bits of information: 1) if, like me, you adore gentians (so blue!), Ian Christie (of the SRGC) is speaking to the Alpine Garden Club of BC tonight; 2) the Alpine Garden Club of BC has its fall sale this weekend; and 3) Treefest is also this weekend -- visit Riverview and walk the grounds of western Canada's oldest arboretum (and progenitor of UBC Botanical Garden)!
Thank you to Weekend Gardener of the UBC Botanical Garden forums for sharing today's photograph via this thread on the BPotD Submissions Forum. Yes, it was posted over 4 months ago, but I figure it is nearing spring for readers in the southern hemisphere, so it's timely for them!
As usual, the Germplasm Resources Information Network provides a list of common names and distribution for this species. Native to much of Europe, it is variously known as snakehead fritillary (see WG's first photograph on the link to the thread above), Guinea-hen-flower, oeuf de vanneau (egg of plover -- plover eggs for comparison) and gewöhnliche Schachblume (chess-flower?).
Fritillaria meleagris is a plant of damp grasslands and river meadows. Once more common in the wild than it is today, it is now listed as an endangered species in several European countries. Browsing through Google Scholar for Fritillaria meleagris, it seems that it is not only the conversion of grasslands to farmland that is responsible for the decline, but also long-term changes in the water regimes of soils (e.g., draining due to ditches). Human harvesting of the flowers has also been an issue, according to Paghat.
North Carolina State University Extension provides a cultural fact sheet on Fritillaria meleagris. I also enjoy viewing the illustrations in the Missouri BG rare books collection: snakehead fritillary.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at September 17, 2008 9:51 AM
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Comments
Posted by: J at September 17, 2008 1:12 PM
liiiiiiinda!
Posted by: SIU at September 17, 2008 2:21 PM
For those who don't speak Portuguese, SIU is exclaiming "Beautiful!"
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at September 17, 2008 2:30 PM
I too am enamoured with you....(the flower)...
Posted by: Scott McGillivray at September 17, 2008 3:25 PM
I love checker lilies! They are tricky around here but i felt triumphant that i now have a couple that return each year to delight me with their blooms come spring.
Posted by: Tammy at September 17, 2008 5:09 PM
What wonderfully different flowers! They almost look like they are made of fabric. "Checker lily" is an apt name, Tammy. Thanks for posting this photo, Daniel!
Posted by: Janet A. at September 17, 2008 11:16 PM
Yes, gewoehnliche Schachblume means common chess (as in the game)flower.
Posted by: Susanne at September 18, 2008 5:26 AM
Awesome lily, awesome color, awesome pattern. Does anyone know where you can obtain the bulbs?
Posted by: Rick at September 18, 2008 6:08 AM
I have this little beauty in my garden, but the flowers are not as colorful as the ones in the photograph. Perhaps it is a soil related thing. I adore Fritillarias in general for their unusual coloring and flower forms. The Holland Bulb company used to carry several different varieties, but I don't have access to my catalogs at this computer. F. meleagris is offered more commonly than any other Fritillarias, except possibly for what is commonly called the crown imperial. I used to have a Frit that I believe was F. persica, which grew three feet high and had a flower stalk of lovely two tone bells, but it perished in one of our Pennsylvania winters, along with some other plants that were borderline hardy here. I don'y post very often but I love this site and appreciate all the work and attention that goes into it. Kudos
Posted by: Carol at September 18, 2008 9:29 AM
what a pretty gem thank you
the botanical illustration is lovely
i enjoy going on the web looking
for the old illustrations
perdue in the states has a nice collection
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at September 19, 2008 4:21 PM
I remember seeing hundreds of them in a "water meadow" close to the River Thames in England about 40 years ago. An unforgettable sight. A water meadow was managed for hay production with grazing only after the hay was cut in June/July (after the fritillaries had flowered and seeded. It was called a water meadow as it was allowed to flood each winter, with the river mud the only fertilizer it received. The fields adjacent were drained, fertilized and seeded with ryegrass...and just green...so sad and such a contrast to the beautiful meadow.
Ciao
BrianO
Posted by: briano at September 20, 2008 6:01 AM
pls let me know flowers for each month
thank you
Posted by: ria at September 20, 2008 7:20 AM
A question about the surface of the flower. Is there a structure that gives rise to the checks? Or is the petal surface an even cell structure? What causes the alternating light and dark areas? It is remarkable for a flower! I tried to search for it but I have not found anything.
Thank you.
Posted by: R. Armistead at September 20, 2008 1:34 PM
This Fritillaria affinis that was shown May 1, 2008 is instructive in the closeness of the pictures.
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2008/05/fritillaria_affinis.php
Posted by: R. Armistead at September 20, 2008 1:45 PM
Ahhhh! Gorgeous colour, beautiful photo!
Reminds me of raspberries -- I could almost eat them!
It seems I'm not the only one -- I have a couple of checkered lilies in my Toronto garden, but they tend to get trampled or eaten by squirrels and/or raccoons.
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at September 22, 2008 7:54 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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WILD! Never knew such a flowe existed....until now. Cheers!