Plant Data Sheet
Erythronium oregonum
Species (common
name, Latin name) White
fawn lily, Erythronium oregonum
Range
Climate,
elevation Moist woods,
often on alluvial soils, and open gravelly prairies. The species is generally found at low
elevations (Plants for a Future, 2000).
Local occurrence
(where, how common) White
fawn lily is found throughout the Olympic Peninsula, except on the northeastern
corner (Polar and Mackinnon 1994). Its
presence throughout its range is rapidly declining (Stewart, 1994).
Habitat
preferences White fawn
lily inhabits well-drained soils in open, often grassy areas and rocky
woodlands that are open to fairly dense (Polar and
Mackinnon 1994).
Plant strategy type/successional
stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer,
seral, late successional)
An early successional
species, it is often found under open canopies.
Associated
species The species of
interest is often found with Camassia quamash, Quercus garyanna, Symphoricarpos albus, Mahonia aquifolium, Dactylis glomerata, Polystichum munitum, Holodiscus discolor,
and Vicia sativa.
May be collected
as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.) Seed or Bulb
Collection
restrictions or guidelines -
Divide bulbs in the summer as the leaves die down (Chittendon,
1956). Larger bulbs can be replanted immediately into their permanent
positions, but it is best to pot smaller bulbs and grow them on in a shady
position in a greenhouse for a year before planting them out when dormant in
late summer. Just a warning
The bulbs have been suspected of poisoning
poultry. Skin contact with the bulbs has
been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people (Plants for our Future,
2000).
Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?) - Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification (Chittendon, 1956). Sow as early in spring as possible in a
cold frame.
Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life) - Seeds are best sown as soon as they are ripe, in a shady position in a cold frame (Bird, 1990).
Recommended seed storage conditions -
Propagation
recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.) The plant flowers from March to June (Stewart
1994). By seed, allow the
seeds to ripen and fall to the ground or sow them in containers
(Botany.com). Erythronium
species have unusual below-ground structures.
They have a bulb with only one scale, and a segmented corm that is made
of round annual segments (Polar and Mackinnon 1994). The plants can be divided when the leaves
have died down (Botany.com). The bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep
(Chittendon, 1956).
Soil or medium requirements (inoculum
necessary?) White fawn lily requires moist soil. Prefers
slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if they contain
plenty of humus. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by
trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil (Bird, 1990; Hendricks, 2001).
Installation form
(form, potential for successful outcomes, cost) Propagation from both bulbs and seed have
been successful.
Recommended planting density - Sow the seed thinly so
that it will not be necessary to thin them out for their first year of growth. (Bird, 1990). If you are planting bulbs, when the
plants are dormant, pot the small bulbs by putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot.
Grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for another 2-3 years and
then plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant in
late summer.
Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water
once etc.) Occasionally, give a liquid feed
to the seedlings to make sure that they do not become nutrient deficient. Water
lightly in summer, it should germinate in autumn or winter (Bird, 1990).
Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan -
Sources cited
Bird, R. 1990. Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan.
Chittendon, F. 1956. RHS Dictionary of
Plants plus Supplement.
Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon.
1994. Plants of the
Plants For A Future: Database Search
Results Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c)
1997-2000.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Plants for a Future, Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon , EX21 5DF , UK
Website: www.pfaf.org
Stewart, C. 1994. Wildflowers of the
Olympics and Cascades. Nature Education
Enterprises.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm
Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory,
www.Botany.com
Data compiled by
(student name and date)
Daniela Shebitz,