About Erythronium helenae Applegate
Erythronium helenae Applegate is a flowering plant species in the lily family, with the common names Pacific fawn lily and St. Helena fawn lily. This species is endemic to the coastal mountains located north of California's San Francisco Bay Area. It is named for Mount Saint Helena, the local peak that forms the meeting point of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties. It grows on the slopes of this mountain at elevations between 500 and 1200 meters, and it is often found growing on serpentine soils. Erythronium helenae grows from a bulb that is 3 to 5 centimeters wide. It produces two wide leaves, which can reach up to 20 centimeters long; these green leaves are mottled with brown or white. It produces erect stalks that grow up to 30 centimeters tall, and each stalk holds between one and three flowers. Each flower has white tepals with yellowish bases, which measure 3 to 4 centimeters long. As the tepals age, they develop pink or purple streaks or mottling. The flower also has yellow stamens that bear large yellow anthers.
