Minnesota dwarf trout lily facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minnesota dwarf trout lily |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erythronium
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| Species: |
propullans
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The Minnesota dwarf trout lily (Erythronium propullans) is a very rare plant. It grows only in a small area of Minnesota, United States. This special plant is found near the Cannon River and North Fork Zumbro River in Rice County, Goodhue County, and northern Steele County.
Scientists think this lily might be a unique version of the white trout lily (Erythronium albidum). It probably developed after the last ice age. These lilies bloom in the spring, at the same time as other early wildflowers like Hepaticas, Dutchman's breeches, and bloodroot. Places like Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park and River Bend Nature Center help protect this rare plant.
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Discovering the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily
This special lily was first noticed by Mary Hodges. She was a science teacher at St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota. Later, a botanist named Asa Gray officially named it a new species in 1871. Because it is so rare, the Minnesota dwarf trout lily is listed as an endangered species by both the state and federal governments. This means it has special protection to help it survive.
What Does the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily Look Like?
The Minnesota dwarf trout lily is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from a small, round part called a bulb, which is like an underground storage unit. Its flowers are smaller than those of the white trout lily, often only about 1 centimeter long. They usually have a pretty pink color.
When the plant makes seeds, the fruits are also small and hang downwards. One interesting thing about this lily is how it grows new plants. Flowering plants send out a special shoot called a stolon from their stem, above the bulb. This stolon then grows a new bulb, creating a new plant. Plants that aren't flowering yet can grow one to three stolons directly from their bulbs, each forming a new plant that is a perfect copy, or clone, of the parent.
Where Does the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily Live?
This lily is found only in two counties in Minnesota. It is the only plant species that grows only in Minnesota and nowhere else in the world! It usually lives in woodlands. You can often find it on slopes that face north, especially near streams. These areas have a lot of shade in the summer. However, the lily grows and blooms early in the year, before the trees have all their leaves. This allows it to get enough sunlight.
How the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily Reproduces
Research shows that the Minnesota dwarf trout lily rarely grows from its own seeds. Instead, it mostly reproduces in other ways. It relies a lot on making new plants from its stems or bulbs, which is called vegetative reproduction. Sometimes, it can also cross-pollinate with the white trout lily. These methods limit how much the plant population can grow and spread to new areas.
Threats to the Minnesota Dwarf Trout Lily
The Minnesota dwarf trout lily has always lived in a small area. Today, it faces several dangers.
- Development and Flooding: Building projects and floods along rivers can destroy its habitat.
- Trampling: People walking or playing in its habitat can accidentally damage the plants.
- Invasive Species: Plants like common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are not native to the area. They can grow quickly and take over the lily's space, blocking its sunlight and nutrients.
These lilies often grow in large groups, with 100 or more plants that are all clones of each other. This means the actual number of unique individual plants might be only around 400. It has also been very difficult for people to grow this species in other places.
