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Fritillaria affinis
Fritillaria affinis (Schult.) Sealy
Checker Lily, Chocolate Lily
Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: FRAF2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
On an erect stem, leafy in the upper part, leafless below, bloom several nodding, greenish-brown, deeply bowl-shaped flowers.
The genus name comes from Latin fritillus, meaning "dice box," in reference to the short, broad capsule characteristic of the genus. There are several species similar to Chocolate Lily. Spotted Mountain Bells (F. atropurpurea), also called Checker Lily throughout much of the West, has flowers 1/2-3/4" (1.3-2 cm) long, and leaves at least 15 times as long as wide. Black Lily or Kamchatka Fritillary (F. camchatcensis), from northwestern Washington to Alaska, has dark purplish-brown flowers. Another species called Chocolate Lily (F. biflora), from the Coast Ranges of California, has dark brownish, unmottled flowers, and all leaves on the lower part of the stem.
From the Image Gallery
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Purple , BrownBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: CA , ID , OR , WANative Distribution: Southern British Columbia to southern California; eastward to northern Idaho.
Native Habitat: Grassy or brushy flats and slopes, or in open woods.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Fritillaria affinis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Fritillaria affinis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fritillaria affinis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-10Research By: TWC Staff