Fritillaria affinis (Schult.) Sealy
Checker Lily (chocolate lily)
Liliaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© May Kald     (Photo ID #16651)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Fritillaria affinis
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Fritillaria affinis var. affinis

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.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Fritillaria 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)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
778 1 1740
Slope Gradient (%)
27 0 85

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

186 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
136
Modal BEC Zone Class
IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BG(5), CDF(17), CWH(4), ICH(5), IDF(72), MS(12), PP(7), SBS(3)

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.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia