Erythronium americanum Ker Gawl.

Bulbs ovoid, 15–28 mm; stolons 1–3, common, mostly on 1-leaved, nonflowering plants. Leaves 8–23 cm; blade green, irregularly mottled, elliptic-lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, ± flat, glaucous, margins entire. Scape 10–18 cm. Inflorescences 1-flowered. Flowers: tepals yellow, sometimes tinged light to dark purple-red abaxially, sometimes with reddish dots adaxially, strongly reflexed at anthesis, lanceolate, 20–33 mm, inner with small auricles; stamens 9–15 mm; filaments yellow, lanceolate; anthers yellow, chestnut brown, or lavender; pollen yellow or brown; style deciduous or base forming small apiculum, greenish yellow, 5–11 mm, swollen distally or ± terete; stigma lobes erect or recurved, 1.5 mm. Capsules held erect or at least off ground at maturity, obovoid, 12–15 mm, apex rounded, truncate, or apiculate. 2n = 48.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in rich, moist forests and in valley bottoms. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

The young leaves are boiled for 5-10 minutes then served with vinegar. They are also eaten raw in salads. The bulb like corms are boiled for 15-20 minutes and served with butter. The flower stalks, flower buds and flowers are eaten raw or cooked.

Can be grown by divisions or seedlings.