White Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) Lily Family (Liliaceae)

This perennial plant is found at low elevations. It likes to grow in well-drained, open, often grassy areas and open to fairly dense, rocky woodlands.

Leaves

The leaves are basal, paired, lance-shaped to oblong, and mottled with pale green and dark brown. It is interesting to see all of the variations in pattens and colors in the leaves.

Flower

The flowers are white (often marked with orange-yellow at the base), the tepals ‘bent back’; usually single, terminal, nodding. It is not uncommon to see two flowers on the same stalk, and I will usually see a couple of lilies with three during the season.

The white fawn lily has tepals. Tepals are a segment of the outer whorl in a flower that has no differentiation between petals and sepals. As they open in the beginning, the tepals flare out to a more or less horizontal position and the tips slightly curl up. They will then start to whirl upwards forming a circular shape that is reminiscent of a paper lantern. The stigma and the stamens loaded with yellow pollen are noticeably revealed.

As showy as this flower is, I would expect to see it attracting many insects or hummingbirds. I did manage to capture a small moth on top of a flower. Maybe the fawn lily doesn’t produce much nectar. I can see the stamens are loaded with yellow pollen which would be of interest to native bees, for example, as a food source.

Capsule and Seeds

When the fawn lily blooms, the stalk bends at the top and the flower nods downward towards the earth. As the seed pod forms, it turns back upright towards the sky. The forming pod is smooth, fleshy and club-shaped. It has three rounded ridges running the length of the pod that gives it somewhat of a triangular shape at the top.

The mature seed pods turn brown and papery. They split open at the top to reveal a vessel full of light brown seeds.

Quick Reference:

Height: 6 - 12”
Leaves: Leaves are basal, paired, lance-shaped to oblong, and mottled with pale green and dark brown.
Flowers: White (often marked with orange-yellow at the base), the tepals ‘bent back’; usually single, terminal, nodding.
Habitat: Grows in well-drained, open, often grassy areas and open to fairly dense, rocky woodlands.

Journal Location:
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, Eugene, OR
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Website
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Plant List

Dying Art

As the flower matures, starts forming its seed pod, and the tepals begin to dry out, the flower transform into beautiful shapes and colors. It becomes a completely different flower that is just as interesting and pleasing to see.

References

Mathews, Daniel. Cascade-Olympic Natural History. Raven Editions in conjunction with Portland Audubon Society, 1988.
Pojar, Jim, and Andy MacKinnon. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska (Revised). B.C. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994.