Erythronium tuolumnense

Applegate

Avelanche lily, Adder's Tongue

Liliaceae Edible: Root, Bulb Potential hazards — see below 90 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Erythronium tuolumnense is a species of flowering plant in the family Liliaceae, known by the common name Tuolumne fawn lily or Tuolumne dog's tooth violet. However, it is neither a true lily nor a violet. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of Tuolumne County, California; from 600 m (1,969 ft) along Italian Bar Road up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) altitude at the headwaters of Deer Creek. This hardy perennial wildflower grows from a bulb 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wide, sometimes with associated bulblets. The bulb resembles a dog's tooth in shape and colour, hence the name "dog's tooth" (which also applies to other erythronium species such as E. dens-canis). It produces two small leaves and a reddish stalk up to 35 cm (14 in) tall bearing one to five flowers. The flower has bright yellow recurved tepals, a white style and white stamens tipped with large yellow anthers. This rare plant is threatened by human activity such as logging in its small native range. Inhabiting moist, light deciduous woodland, this plant is also found in cultivation. The species and the hybrid cultivar 'Pagoda' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Description

A bulb or corm plant. It grows 20-35 cm high and 10-15 cm wide. The corms are over 8 cm long. The leaves are bright green without mottling. The flowers occur as 4 on long stems. They are yellow with green centres.

Edible Uses

No specific food use has been documented for this species, but most if not all members of the genus produce edible bulbs. The ovoid bulb is 5–10cm long.

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

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Australia, North America*, Tasmania, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these 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. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c. Plants are spreading well, but only flowering lightly in the dappled shade of a woodland garden at Kew. Bulbs should be planted about 7cm deep. They increase rapidly by offsets.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer; germination should occur 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 to avoid the need to prick out seedlings in their first year, and give occasional liquid feeds to prevent nutrient deficiency. When plants go dormant, pot up the small bulbs 2–3 per pot and grow them on in a shady greenhouse for another 2–3 years before planting out into permanent positions while dormant in late summer. Bulbs can also be divided in summer as the leaves die down. Larger bulbs can go straight into permanent positions, while smaller ones are better potted and grown on in a shady greenhouse for a year before planting out when dormant in late summer.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 22 Erythronium species.

References (6)

Contr. Dudley Herb. 1:153. 1930
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 564
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 95
Joyce, D., 1998, The Garden Plant Selector. Ryland, Peters and Small. p 291
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 6 references