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Taxon  Report  
Fritillaria lanceolata  Pursh  var. tristulis  A. L. Grant
Marin checker lily
Fritillaria lanceolata var. tristulis is a perennial herb that is native to California.
California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~33 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
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Bloom Period
Genus: Fritillaria
Family: Liliaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Name Status:
Accepted by CNPS

Alternate Names:
PLANTSFritillaria affinis var. tristulis
Information about  Fritillaria lanceolata var. tristulis from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
USDA PLANTS Profile (FRAFT2)

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[Wikipedia] Description, Varieties, Distribution, Habitat, Uses: Fritillaria affinis, the chocolate lily, is a highly variable species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae native to western North America. Description It grows from a bulb, which resembles a small mass of rice grains. The stems are 10?120 centimetres (4?47 inches) tall. The flowers are produced in the spring, nodding, 1?4 cm (1?2?1+1?2 in), yellowish or greenish brown with a lot of yellow mottling to purplish black with little mottling, or yellow-green mottled with purple. The leaves are in whorls.[3] There are two varieties: Fritillaria affinis var. affinis: This is the more common and widespread variant, occurring throughout the plant's range. It can be differentiated by its strong mottling pattern. Its bulb has 2 to 20 small scales. Fritillaria affinis var. tristulis: This variant is much less widespread; it is found only in Marin County on the north coast of California. It has a much more subtle mottling pattern and is generally darker overall. Its bulb has 60 to 100 small scales.[4] Plant habit Plant habit Leaves and stem Leaves and stem Flower Flower Flower underside Flower underside Dark flower Dark flower Distribution and habitat It can be found in California, Klamath Ranges, the north coast ranges, Cascade Ranges, north Sierra Nevada foothills, and the San Francisco Bay Area, north to British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho.[5] Its habitat includes oak or pine scrub or open woods and thickets near the coast. It prefers low to mid-elevation, shade or part shade, dry summer dormancy, and good drainage. Uses The roots or bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked.[6] Historically, the bulbs of this plant were eaten steamed by Salish Native American peoples, including the Squamish, Sechelt, Halq'emeylem and Straits Salish.[7] (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/29/2024).