Chocolate lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chocolate lily |
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Fritillaria affinis, also known as the chocolate lily, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the lily family and grows naturally in western North America. People call it the chocolate lily because its flowers often have colors like chocolate brown or purplish black.
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About the Chocolate Lily
This plant grows from a special underground part called a bulb. This bulb looks a bit like a small bunch of rice grains. The stems of the chocolate lily can grow quite tall, from about 10 to 120 centimeters (4 to 47 inches).
In the spring, the plant produces pretty, nodding flowers. These flowers are usually between 1 and 4 centimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long. Their colors can vary a lot! You might see them yellowish or greenish brown with yellow spots. Some are purplish black with fewer spots, or even yellow-green with purple patterns. The leaves grow in circles around the stem, which is called a whorl.
Types of Chocolate Lilies
There are two main types, or varieties, of the chocolate lily:
- Fritillaria affinis var. affinis: This is the most common type. It grows in many places where the chocolate lily is found. You can tell it apart by its strong, clear spotted pattern on the flowers. Its bulb usually has 2 to 20 small scales.
- Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis: This type is much rarer. It is only found in Marin County on the north coast of California. Its flowers have a much lighter spotted pattern and are generally darker. Its bulb has many more scales, usually 60 to 100.
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Plant habit
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Leaves and stem
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Flower
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Flower underside
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Dark flower
Where Chocolate Lilies Grow
The chocolate lily can be found in many areas of western North America. This includes parts of California, like the Klamath Ranges and the San Francisco Bay Area. It also grows north into British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.
This plant likes to live in certain places. You can often find it in open woods or thickets near the coast. It prefers areas with oak or pine trees. It grows best in low to mid-elevation spots, where it gets some shade or part shade. It also needs dry summers and soil that drains water well.
How People Use Chocolate Lilies
Historically, the bulbs of the chocolate lily were an important food source. Native American peoples, like the Salish tribes, would eat them. They often steamed the bulbs before eating them. Tribes such as the Squamish, Sechelt, Halq'emeylem, and Straits Salish used this plant for food.
See also
In Spanish: Fritillaria affinis para niños
