Erythronium

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Erythronium | image = Erythronium dens-canis0.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Erythronium dens-canis | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Lilliopsida | subclassis = Liliidae | ordo = Liliales | familia = Liliaceae | genus = Erythronium | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}

Erythronium is a genus of cormous, spring-flowering, perennials. They have attractive pendent flowers and mottled or unmottled leaves. Many are best grown in shade so that the corms do not overheat or dry out.

The genus consists of 20-30 species. The species are primarily in temperate North America, with a few species in the Old World. Common names include Fawn Lily or Fawnliliy, Trout Lily, Dog's-tooth Violet and Adder's-tongue.

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Species

Western North America (west of the Rocky Mountains)
Eastern North America (east of the Rocky Mountains)
Europe
Asia
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Uses

Image:ErythroniumPagoda.jpg The corm is edible as a root vegetable, cooked or dried, and can be ground into flour. The leaves can also be cooked as a leaf vegetable. In Japan, Erythronium japonicum is called katakuri, and the corm is processed to produce starch, which is used for food and other purposes.

They are also widely grown as ornamental plants, with numerous hybrids and cultivars having been selected for garden use. Popular cultivars include E. 'Pagoda', E. 'Sundisc', E. 'Joanna', E. 'Kondo', E. 'Citronella', E. californicum 'White Beauty', and E. 'Rosalind'. Propagation is best by seed in autumn or by division of corms, depending on species. Some species propagate vegetatively, while others do not.

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References

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