Corn Lily (Veratrum californicum)

 7/4/16 Rock Creek near Mosquito Flat campground, Inyo National Forest,

Eastern Sierra, Mono County, CA

8/15/11 Corn Lilies in a sea of Monkshood

Onion Valley, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

7/8/00 Onion Valley, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Corn Lily, False Hellebore

SPECIES: Veratrum californicum

FAMILY: Melanthiaceae (False Hellebore Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 7/8/2000

LOCATION: Abundant near streams, wet/boggy areas approaching trailheads & campground. 9.200' elevation, Onion Valley, Eastern Sierra (Independence region), Inyo County, CA

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Treatment from The Jepson Manual (1993):

Leaves ovate; lower 20–40 cm, tomentose-ciliate, lower surface curly-hairy, upper surface glabrous or veins sparsely short-hairy

Inflorescence erect, generally 30–60 cm, tomentose; branches ascending or spreading; pedicels 1–6 mm

Flower 10–15 mm; perianth parts elliptic to obovate, white or greenish, glabrous to sparsely woolly below, entire to ± dentate, glands 1–2, Y-shaped, green; stamens 1/2–2/3 perianth length; ovary glabrous

Fruit 2–3 cm, narrowly ovoid

Seed 10–12 mm, ± winged

Ecology: Streambanks, moist meadows, forest edges

Elevation: ± 1000–3500 m.  

Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Modoc Plateau,East of Sierra Nevada (Sweetwater Mtns)  

Distribution outside California: to Washington, Montana, Colorado, Mexico

Flowering time: Jul–Aug

Horticultural information: WET: 1, 2, 6, 7.