Scarlet fritillary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet fritillary |
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Fritillaria
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| Species: |
F. recurva
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| Fritillaria recurva |
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The scarlet fritillary (scientific name: Fritillaria recurva) is a beautiful wild flower found in North America. It grows from a bulb and belongs to the lily family.
This plant is originally from parts of North America, mainly southwest Oregon and northern California. You can find it growing in mountain ranges like the Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada. It also grows in Nevada. The scarlet fritillary likes dry, open forests and areas with chaparral (a type of shrubland). It can be found at elevations from about 300 to 2,200 meters (about 1,000 to 7,200 feet). This lovely flower blooms in the spring, usually from February to July.
What Does it Look Like?
The scarlet fritillary is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from a bulb, which is like an underground storage unit for the plant.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves grow in whorls, which means they form a circle around the stem. The leaves are long and narrow. The flowers are a bright scarlet red color. They have a checkered pattern of yellow on the inside. The flowers are shaped like a bell and usually hang downwards.
The name "recurva" comes from the way its tepals (which are like petals and sepals combined) curve or bend backwards. After the flower blooms, it produces a capsule that has wings. This capsule holds the seeds.
Blooming Time and Special Features
The scarlet fritillary usually blooms from February to July. Its bright scarlet red color, yellow checkered pattern inside, and backward-curving tepals help tell it apart from other Fritillaria species.
