Erythronium albidum

Nutt.

White trout-lily, Blonde Lilian, White dogtooth violet

Liliaceae Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Root, Bulb Potential hazards — see below 17,771 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Erythronium albidum, commonly known as the white fawnlily or white trout lily, is a small herbaceous geophyte in the lily family. It is also known as adder's tongue, white dog's-tooth violet, serpent's tongue, trout lily, deer tongue, creeklily and yellow snowdrop. Large numbers of this plant indicate that the woodland has never been subjected to heavy machinery, where it would be unable to grow due to soil compaction.

Description

A bulb plant. It grows 15-30 cm high and spreads 8-15 cm wide. The leaves are long and fan outwards. The flowers are held above the leaves. They hang downwards and have petals which are pointed and curve back. The flowers are 2.5-5 cm long. They are white with some yellow. Plants go dormant after flowering.

Edible Uses

The bulb can be eaten raw or cooked and has a delicious flavour. It is rather small, around 25mm long. Young leaves are crisp, tasty, tender and mild when eaten raw, and can also be cooked — though harvesting the leaves will greatly reduce the vigour of the bulb, so this is only recommended in times of emergency. Flowers, flower buds and flower stems can be eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves can be eaten raw. The flower stalks, flower buds and bell shaped flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. The bulbs are boiled and eaten.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, the following notes have been seen for another member of this genus and so some caution is advised. Skin contact with the bulbs has been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people.

Distribution

Temperate. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Where It Grows

Australia, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils so long as they contain plenty of humus. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil. Succeeds in almost any light soil, preferring one that is rich in humus. This species is closely related to E. americanum, but is unsatisfactory in cultivation outdoors in Britain. It comes into growth early in the year and the flowers probably need more heat than is available in this country if they are to open properly. A clump seen growing in light shade at Kew early in April 1995 was growing vigorously, spreading well and had lots of flower buds, but was not yet in flower. Erythronium albidum often forms extensive colonies in which nonflowering, 1-leaved plants far outnumber flowering, 2-leaved ones. Flowers are produced in 3 - 4 years from seed. This species does not produce offsets.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer; it should germinate in autumn or winter. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and should be sown as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow thinly so that seedlings will not need pricking out in their first year. Give an occasional liquid feed to prevent nutrient deficiency. When plants are dormant, pot up the small bulbs 2–3 per pot and grow on in a shady position in the greenhouse for a further 2–3 years before planting out into permanent positions when dormant in late summer. This species does not produce offsets, so division in summer as the leaves die down is the only vegetative option.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 22 Erythronium species.

References (6)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 563
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 143
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 345
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 41

Show all 6 references