About Erythronium montanum S.Watson
Erythronium montanum, commonly known as avalanche lily or white avalanche lily, is a member of the lily family. It is native to coastal British Columbia, as well as the alpine and subalpine zones of the Olympic and Cascade Ranges in the Pacific Northwest regions of Washington and Oregon.
This species blooms shortly after snow melts in late spring. It grows in damp subalpine woodlands and alpine meadows, often forming large extensive patches. Blooming individuals near the edges of snowfields can persist into midsummer. In the central Cascades, at the lower elevation end of its range, it is frequently found growing and flowering alongside Clintonia uniflora and Trillium ovatum; at higher elevations, it grows alongside Pulsatilla occidentalis, which is also known by the synonym Anemone occidentalis.
The key distinguishing characteristics of Erythronium montanum are oblong-lanceolate unmottled leaves, and tepals that are white with a yellow base. Apart from its different flower color, it is very similar to Erythronium grandiflorum, whose native range overlaps with and includes the range of E. montanum.
