Tuolumne fawn lily | |
---|---|
![]() | |
'Pagoda', Jardin des Plantes, Paris | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Liliales |
Family: | Liliaceae |
Subfamily: | Lilioideae |
Tribe: | Lilieae |
Genus: | Erythronium |
Species: | E. tuolumnense
|
Binomial name | |
Erythronium tuolumnense |
Erythronium tuolumnense is a species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae, known by the common name Tuolumne fawn lily or Tuolumne dog's tooth violet. However, it is neither a true lily nor a violet. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of Tuolumne County, California; from 600 m (1,969 ft) along Italian Bar Road up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) altitude at the headwaters of Deer Creek.[2]
This hardy perennial wildflower grows from a bulb 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wide, sometimes with associated bulblets. The bulb resembles a dog's tooth in shape and colour, hence the name "dog's tooth" (which also applies to other erythronium species such as E. dens-canis). It produces two small leaves and a reddish stalk up to 35 cm (14 in) tall bearing one to five flowers. The flower has bright yellow recurved tepals, a white style and white stamens tipped with large yellow anthers.[2][3][4]
This rare plant is threatened by human activity such as logging in its small native range.
Inhabiting moist, light deciduous woodland, this plant is also found in cultivation. The species[5] and the hybrid cultivar 'Pagoda'[6] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Conservation
[edit]Known from only a small number of populations, the largest of which have over ten thousand individuals. Erythronium tuolumnense is listed as imperiled by NaturServe. It has a small historic range, and human activity, especially recreational off-road vehicle use threatens the largest population. Other threats include mining, garbage dumping, camping, logging and fire suppression.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Erythronium Tuolumnense". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
- ^ a b Flora of North America v 26 p 159
- ^ Applegate, Elmer Ivan.. 1930. Contributions from the Dudley Herbarium 1(4): 153–154.
- ^ Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- ^ "Erythronium tuolumnense". Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Erythronium 'Pagoda'". Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Comprehensive Report Species -". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
External links
[edit]