Midland Fawn Lily Flowers 2018

These are the flowers of Midland Fawn Lily (Erythronium mesochoreum) growing in my Topeka KS yard on Mar 21 2018. Fawn lilies are members of the Lily family (Liliaceae) and are native to the central United States. Fawn lilies are also known as trout lilies with the name referring to the spots found on the leaves of some species. As is typical of the lily family the floral parts come in multiples of three – 6 in the case of the fawn lilies. It is a species found on prairies and dry woodlands. Unique characteristics of this species are spreading petals and few to no spots on the leaves. This species does not spread by stolon like some fawn lilies. Flowering individuals have two basal leaves while non flowering plants only have one leaf. Look for this plant in prairie cemeteries, prairie hay meadows and dry open woods.