Trout lily or Dogtooth violet

The Botanical name is Erythronium albidum. The word ‘erythronium’ has a Greek root, meaning red. This refers to other species within the genus. None of the plants in the southeastern part of the country are red. The common name “Trout Lily” refers to the pretty speckled leaves, which somebody thought resemble the scales of a trout. Another common name is “Dogtooth Violet”. Dogtooth refers to the shape of the corm, but violet is unclear since this plant is not in the violet family and doesn't look like a violet. Yet still another common name is "Fawn lily", once again referencing the mottled leaves.

Trout lily flowers can be yellow or white. The white variety is found on Ozarkedge (Erythronium albidum). The yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) is known to grow within the Ozark Region, but isn’t found on Ozarkedge.

The bloom from Erythronium albidum is absolutely charming. Instead of facing you, the flower is found in a nodding position. To appreciate the inside of the flower, the stem must be tipped back. But, that’s not necessary to appreciate the beauty of the bloom. The back of the petals is a magnificent mix of colors- gray, slate blue, pink and brown. Nature sure knows how to paint! Underneath, the petals are pale white with long stamens and bright yellow anthers. 

Erythronium albidum is not a large plant. The leaves are about 6-7 inches tall. Each leaf has a pattern of maroon or brownish speckles on a soft jade green background. The speckled leaves are like snowflakes in that no two are alike. Arising opposite each other at the base of the flower stalk, they taper to a point in an oblong shape.

The majority of Trout Lilies in a given colony are immature, single leafed plants. These plants don't produce a flower. A mature plant will have two leaves and produce only one splendid flower.

The flower is about an inch wide with 6 soft white petals (actually 3 petals and 3 sepals) with 6 bright yellow anthers. The petals curve backward when the sun shines. On cloudy days, the flowers refuse to fully open. In fact, the flowers close each night. If you visit the woodland early on a sunlit morning, you can observe flowers slowly opening. Take a look at these pictures obtained on a sunny day. Also, notice the variation in the amount of mottling on the leaves.

Trout lilies arise early in spring, bloom, make seed and then go back into the earth for the rest of the season. On Ozarkedge, the leaves appear in February, flower buds in early to mid March and flowers any time between mid March to mid April.

Bees are the primary pollinators of Trout lily, with many varied bee species visiting the flowers. Most are seeking nectar and some also collect pollen. Less commonly, butterflies, skippers and bee flies may act as pollinators when visiting the flowers for nectar.

This video shows a Common Eastern Bumble Bee who was visiting one flower after another in the in a large colony of Trout lilies. It was a very windy day! The bee maneuvered under the flower, and hung upside down to reach the nectar and pollen. It's weight pulled the flower over, almost to the ground.

Erythronium albidum thrives in a crowd and is found in large masses carpeting the forest floor. They like moisture and tend to grow on gentle slopes in open woods that let in the spring sunshine. Trout lilies have been found to be an important link in the woodland community acting as stabilizers for the forest floor and contributing important nutrients to the soil. Since Trout Lilies tend to reproduce more by corms than seed, they must be in contact with mother plants. This reproduction method allows them to form vast colonies in suitable habitat, but if they lose the habitat, it can take many years, if ever, for a colony to recover. Young plants may take as many as 8 years to flower! Hence, Trout Lilies are found in woodlands that have remained free from development, plowing or bulldozing.

Erythronium albidum is native to the eastern United states and Canada. Natureserve lists it as Critically Imperiled in 2 states- South Dakota and Alabama. It's listed as Imperiled in the District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia and possibly in West Virginia. It is Vulnerable in Kansas and Pennsylvania, and Apparently Secure in Iowa and New York. It has Secure Status in Illinois and Kentucky. All other states show no status on Natureserve.

When ants gather and move seeds to their nests and away from the mother plant, its call myrmecochory. Trout lilies are another of the early spring wildflowers that take advantage of this method to disperse their seed. Why do ants carry the seeds away? They are after the nutritious, protein rich elaiosome attached to the seed. The seed itself is discarded and hence is 'planted' in a new area!