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Erythronium americanum
  • Trout Lily

a member of the Erythronium genus in the family Liliaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • partial shade
    Partial shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Erythronium americanum has 0 edible uses listed
Erythronium americanum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, the following notes have been seen for another member of this genus and so some caution is advised. Skin contact with the bulbs has been known to cause dermatitis in sensitive people[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Bulb - raw[2] or cooked[3][4]. A crisp, chewy and very pleasant taste[5]. The bulb is up to 25mm long and is buried quite deeply in the soil[6].

Leaves - raw or cooked[3][4]. Added to salads[5]. Eating the leaves will greatly reduce the vigour of the bulb, so can only be recommended in times of emergency[K].

Flowers, flower buds and flower stems - raw or cooked[5].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants spread freely by means of underground stems and make a delightful ground cover in dappled shade[7]. The plants are only in growth from late winter to late spring so the ground cover effect is ephemeral[K].
There are no material uses listed for Erythronium americanum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

All parts of the plant, but especially the bulb and the fresh leaves, are strongly emetic and are not used internally[6].

The fresh leaves are also antiscrofulatic and emollient and are used as an infusion or stimulating poultice applied to swellings, tumours and scrofulous ulcers[6][2][8]. The juice from crushed leaves has been applied to wounds that are not healing[7]. A poultice of the crushed bulbs has been applied to swellings and to help remove splinters[7].

The raw plant, excluding the roots, has been used by native North American young girls to prevent conception[7].

Unknown part

Antiscrophulatic
Contraceptive
Emetic
Emollient
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame. Water lightly in summer, it should germinate in autumn or winter[9][10]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification[9]. Sow as early in spring as possible in a cold frame. Sow the seed thinly so that it will not be necessary to prick them out for their first year of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed to the seedlings to make sure that they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants are dormant, pot up the small bulbs putting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse for another 2 3 years and then plant them out into their permanent positions when they are dormant in late summer. Division in summer as the leaves die down. This species does not produce offsets[10].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Erythronium americanum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers slightly acid soil conditions but succeeds in chalky soils if these contain plenty of humus[9]. Requires semi-shade, preferably provided by trees or shrubs, and a well-drained soil[11][9]. Succeeds in almost any light soil, preferring one that is rich in humus[12].

This species does not flower very freely, increasing mainly by its stoloniferous habit[9]. The flowers only open in warm sun[13]. When established in woodland, this species can spread very freely by means of underground roots[14].

Flowers are produced in 3 - 4 years from seed[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Erythronium americanum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Erythronium americanum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Erythronium americanum
Genus
Erythronium
Family
Liliaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[6][2][8][7]
Material uses & Functions
[7]
Botanic
[15][10]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
Shade
partial shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.2 x 0.08 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-090-x (1975-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.5 Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. (1938-00-00)
    12. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    13. ? Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30253-1 (1989-00-00)
    14. ? RHS. Wisley, Surrey. The Garden. Volume 124. 1999. RHS. Wisley, Surrey. ISBN 0308 5457 (1999-00-00)
    15. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)


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    Facts about "Erythronium americanum"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLiliaceae +
    Belongs to genusErythronium +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has binomial nameErythronium americanum +
    Has common nameTrout Lily +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +, Leaves + and Root +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone3 +
    Has mature height0.2 +
    Has mature width0.08 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiscrophulatic +, Contraceptive +, Emetic +, Emollient + and Poultice +
    Has search nameerythronium americanum + and trout lily +
    Has shade tolerancePartial shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameErythronium americanum +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum +, Erythronium americanum + and Erythronium americanum +