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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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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: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , OR , WA
Native 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) Calflora
Webref 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 Plants
FNA: Find Fritillaria affinis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Fritillaria affinis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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