White Trout Lily, Erythronium albidum
( Erythronium albidum) aka White Adder’s Tongue, Fawn Lily Bloom Time: April – May (Spring) Location: prefers shade, moist woods with a ready supply of decaying leaf litter. Grows primarily in the eastern half of Minnesota (general). Found throughout floodplains in both parts of the Arboretum. Grows in particular abundance along the northern bank of Spring Creek just above the Lyman lakes, and on the opposite side of the creek east of Bell Field (Arb). Family: Lily (Liliaceae) Physical Description: white flowers with six petals. Backs of the flowers are often tinged violet, and the blooms nod from the end of a bare stem. Not all plants have flowers, but each plant has the potential to produce only one. 1-2 basal leaves, elliptical and mottled dark green and a lighter green. They yellow with age. The plant is so named because these leaves give the appearance of leaping trout. Grows to be 4-8 in. high. NOTE: acts as a mild emetic if consumed.