Trout Lily (Dogtooth violet)—Erythronium

Common name: Dogtooth Violet Genus Species: Erythronium americanum Descrip(on: Dogtooth violet is a perennial herbaceous plant growing 3 to 12 inches tall. Flowering plants typically have two leaves; nonflowering plants have one leaf and oLen form large colonies. Immature plants seem to take a minimum of 4 to 7 years to reach maturity. Habitats: Dogtooth violet grows in rich, low woods, wooded slopes, and upland woods, and along streams, boPomlands, and meadows on well-­‐drained soil. Phenology highlight: Flowers open each morning, and close each evening, so observe this plant during mid-­‐day to Photo credit: Kerissa BaPle, communitygreenways.org collect accurate data on whether or not flowers are open. Species facts •  Dogtooth violet flowers are insect-­‐ or self-­‐pollinated. •  The nectar and pollen of the flowers aPract mainly bumblebees and other na+ve bees. •  Seeds are distributed in part by ants, which are aPracted to elaiosomes, fleshy protuberances on the outside of the seeds. Ants “plant” the seeds when they carry them into their underground nests, where they eat the elaiosomes but not the actual seeds. •  Dogtooth violet has been used as food and medicine, and as a contracep+ve. Photo credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org Why observe this species? Dogtooth violet is a USA-­‐NPN regional plant species. Regional species are ecologically or economically important. The NPN integrates these observa+ons to understand bePer plant responses within the different geographic regions of the na+on. Tip for observing this species: If drought seems to be the cause of leaf senescence, please make a comment about it for that observa+on. Map credit: USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database hPp://plants.usda.gov, 21 August 2014). Na+onal Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-­‐4901 USA For more informa+on about phenology and the New York Phenology Project (NYPP), please visit the NYPP website (www.nyphenology.org) and the USA-­‐NPN website (www.usanpn.org) Version 1 August 2014 Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium americanun) Note: flower and fruit phenophases are nested so you may need to record more than one phenophase for each; for example, if you record Y for “open flowers” you should also record Y for “flowers or flower buds.” Ini(al Growth New growth is visible aLer a period of no growth (winter or drought) when new green shoots break through the soil. Growth is "ini+al" on each shoot un+l the first Ellen G. Denny true leaf has fully open. usanpn.org Flowers or flower buds One or more fresh open or unopened flowers or flower buds are visible. Include developing flower buds, but not wilted or dried flowers. Celia Cuomo nyphenology.org Leaves One or more live fully unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves. For seedlings, count only true leaves not the one small Chris Evans leaf (cotyledon) that IL Wildlife AcAon Plan Bugwood.org appears on the stem shortly aLer germina+on. Open flowers One or more open fresh flowers are visible. Flowers are "open" when the reproduc+ve parts (male stamens or female pis+ls) are visible. Do not include David Cappaert MSU, Bugwood.org wilted or dried flowers. Ripe fruits One or more Fruits One or more Ellen G. Denny usanpn.org fruits are visible. For dogtooth violet, the fruit is a capsule that changes from green to brown and splits open to expose the seeds. Do not include empty capsules. Photo credit Recent fruit or seed drop One or more mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include empty fruits that had long ago Ellen G. Denny dropped all their seeds usanpn.org but remain on the plant. ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For dogtooth violet, a fruit is considered ripe when it has turned brown and has split open to expose the seeds. Do not include empty capsules. Violet or lily? Dogtooth True violets violet is a confusing common name because it is not a violet. Trout lily, another common name, is more suitable since it is a member of the lily family. Compare the true violets in this photo with the Celia Cuomo nyphenology.org leaves and flowers of dogtooth violets. All phenophases pictured here. Version 1 August 2014