Fritillaria affinis (Schult.) Sealy var. affinis
chocolate lily (checker lily)
Liliaceae
Introduction to Vascular Plants
chocolate lily (checker lily)
Liliaceae
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Map
Distribution of Fritillaria affinis var. affinis
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a bulb of a few larger, fleshy scales and numerous small, rice-grain bulblets; stems 20-80 cm tall, slender to sturdy, smooth.
Leaves:
Usually in 1 or 2 whorls of 3 to 5 on the stem, scattered and alternate above, narrowly lanceolate to lance-egg-shaped, 5-10 (15) cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, smooth.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a single nodding flower, or 2 to 5 relatively long-stalked flowers in a terminal cluster; flowers variably brownish-purple mottled with greenish-yellow, to yellowish-green mottled purple, broadly bell-shaped, of 6 similar, distinct tepals, the tepals oblong to egg-shaped, 2-4 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, with a long, yellowish-green nectar gland on inner surface near the base; stamens 6; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, erect, cylindric-egg-shaped, 6-angled, winged on the angles, 2 cm long; seeds numerous, flattened.
Notes:
This species has long been known as F. lanceolata, an illegitimate name.
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.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Fritillaria affinis var. affinis
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
744 | 390 | 1137 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
27 | 0 | 70 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
181 | 60 | 250 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
1 | 0 | 6 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
B | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
12 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
ICH(5), IDF(6), SBS(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Dry to mesic grassy bluffs, meadows and open forests in the lowland and steppe to lower subalpine zones; common on SE Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and inland to SC BC, south of 52degreeN; S to ID and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Fritillaria camschatcensis var. floribunda (Benth.) B. Boivin
Fritillaria eximia Eastw.
Fritillaria lanceolata Pursh
Fritillaria mutica Lindl.
Fritillaria mutica var. gracilis (S. Watson) Jeps.