Coast Range fawnlily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coast Range fawnlily |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erythronium
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| Species: |
elegans
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The Coast Range Fawnlily (Erythronium elegans) is a special and rare flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family. People also call it the Elegant Fawnlily. This plant is found only in Oregon, United States. It grows in the northern Oregon Coast Range. There are only about 12 known places where it lives.
Contents
What is the Coast Range Fawnlily?
The Coast Range Fawnlily grows from a thin, underground bulb. This bulb is about 3 to 5 centimeters long. The plant has two leaves. These leaves can grow up to 20 centimeters long. They are usually green. Sometimes, they have brownish or white spots.
How Does It Look?
A tall stem, called a scape, grows from the plant. This stem can reach up to 30 centimeters high. It holds one to four beautiful flowers. Each flower has six petal-like parts called tepals. Three of these tepals are white on the inside. The other three are white with a hint of pink. Near the bottom of each tepal, there are yellow stripes. These tepals are about 2 to 4 centimeters long.
Inside the flower, you can see parts sticking out. These are the stamens. They have yellow tips called anthers. Each anther is about 1 to 2 centimeters long. The Coast Range Fawnlily blooms in late spring. You can usually see its flowers in May and June.
Where Does the Fawnlily Live?
This special plant does not grow in many places. It is found only in a small area. However, it can grow in different kinds of environments. It doesn't need very specific light or moisture levels.
Fawnlily Habitats
You can find the Coast Range Fawnlily in many places. It grows in open forests. It also lives in deep, shady forests. Sometimes, it is found at the edges of wet areas called bogs. It can even grow on cliffs and in grassy meadows.
Plant Neighbors
The forests where this fawnlily lives often have many Douglas-fir trees. These trees are known scientifically as Pseudotsuga menziesii. Other plants that might grow nearby include:
- Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis)
- Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
- Spruce trees (Picea species)
- False lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum dilatatum)
- California glacier lily (Erythronium grandiflorum var. pallidum)
- Strawberry plants (Fragaria species)
- Snowberry plants (Gaultheria species)
- Blueberry bushes (Vaccinium species)
- Lupine flowers (Lupinus species)
Growing and Surviving
In nature, the Coast Range Fawnlily seems to struggle a bit. It doesn't compete well with other plants. It often grows in places where the soil doesn't have many nutrients. This means fewer other plants can grow there. This gives the fawnlily a better chance to survive. Even though it struggles in the wild, it grows very well when people plant it in gardens.
