Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh subsp. grandiflorum
yellow glacier lily (yellow avalanche-lily)
Liliaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Dave Ingram     (Photo ID #3478)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Erythronium grandiflorum ssp. grandiflorum
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a slender, 3- to 5-cm long bulb and an elongate, segmented corm; flowering stems 15-30 cm tall, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaves 2, bright yellow-green, not mottled, oblong to egg-shaped, 10-20 cm long, smooth, narrowed gradually to broad, slightly winged stalks clasping the stem at the base, the margins entire but somewhat wavy; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence usually a solitary flower atop a leafless, unbranched, smooth stem; flowers golden-yellow to cream, nodding, of 6 similar, distinct tepals, the tepals lanceolate, 2-4 cm long, 4-8 mm wide, strongly curved back; stamens 6, anthers white, yellow, or red; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, cylindric-club-shaped, erect, 3-5 cm long; seeds several to many (typically 20 to 50), brown, papery.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Moist to mesic meadows, edges of snow-melt, along streams and occasionally in open forests in the montane to alpine zones; common throughout BC S of 53degreeN; E to AB and S to MT, UT and N CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Erythronium grandiflorum subsp. chrysandrum Applegate
Erythronium grandiflorum subsp. nudipetalum Applegate
Erythronium grandiflorum var. chrysandrum (Applegate) Scoggan
Erythronium grandiflorum var. nudipetalum (Applegate) C.L. Hitchc.
Erythronium grandiflorum var. pallidum St. John
Erythronium parviflorum (S. Wats.) Goodding