Erythronium albidum
| Erythronium albidum | |
|---|---|
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| Erythronium albidum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Liliaceae |
| Genus: | Erythronium |
| Species: | E. albidum |
| Binomial name | |
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Erythronium albidum L. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Erythronium albidum var. coloratum Sterns |
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Erythronium albidum var. coloratum Sterns
Erythronium albidum (white fawnlily or white trout lily) is a small herbaceous flowering plant in the lily family. It is native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec and southern Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas.
It produces short, slender stems 10–15 cm tall, which bear two oblong leaves on each stem. The leaves are lanceolate, 8–16 cm long and 3–4 cm broad, dark green and covered with a mottled pattern of purple blotches. At the end of the stem, the plant produces a white, lily-like flower 3–4 cm diameter, with six yellow stamens. The flowers are bent downward, and elongate with age. It blooms in mid to late spring.
The plant is mostly found in large groups on the forest floor, often in areas following ground disturbance. Its preferred growing conditions are in part sun to mostly shade and deep, moist loamy soils.
It is also known as adder's tongue, dog's-tooth violet, serpent's tongue, trout lily, deer tongue, and yellow snowdrop.
European settlers considered it to have similar properties to meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale), and white fawnlily was often used as a substitute for it. The plant was listed in the Pharmacopoeia of the United States from 1820-1863 as a treatment for gout.
Some believe that wounds will be healed if the plant is soaked in cold water, then removed and wrapped it in cloth and applied to a wound or bruise. It is left there until the bundle is warm, and then removed and buried in a muddy place.
Little is known of the constituents, because little research has been done. It is known to contain alpha-methylenebutyrolactone. The plant is emetic, emollient, and antiscorbutic when fresh. It is nutritive when dry.
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