Fritillaria biflora, the chocolate lily or mission bells, is a species of fritillary native to western California, US, and northern Baja California, Mexico.[2][3] It occurs in the chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, often in serpentine soil formations and hillside grassland habitats.[4]

Fritillaria biflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Tribe: Lilieae
Genus: Fritillaria
Species:
F. biflora
Binomial name
Fritillaria biflora
Synonyms[1]
  • Amblirion lanceolatum Sweet
  • Fritillaria biflora var. inflexa Jeps.
  • Fritillaria kamtschatcensis Torr. (not Fritillaria camschatcensis (L.) Ker Gawler)
  • Fritillaria lanceolata Torr.
  • Fritillaria succulenta Elmer
  • Liliorhiza viridis Kellogg

Fritillaria biflora is a bulbous herbaceous perennial up to 60 cm tall. It is called "chocolate lily" because its flowers can resemble the color of chocolate, although sometimes they are greenish purple or yellowish green.[4][5] Flowers bloom in March and April.[6]

Fritillaria biflora should not be confused with Arthropodium strictum, which is also called "chocolate lily". In the latter, the scent is reminiscent of chocolate, rather than the color. The Kamchatka fritillary (F. camschatcensis) is sometimes also called "chocolate lily" in Alaska.

Varieties

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Two varieties are recognized:[1][4]

See also

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  1. ^ a b The Plant List
  2. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ Biota of North America Program
  4. ^ a b c Flora of North America v 26 p 168, Fritillaria biflora
  5. ^ Lindley, John. 1834. Edwards's Botanical Register 20: under pl. 1663.
  6. ^ "Fritillaria biflora". Calflora. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database. Retrieved 15 January 2017.