Erythronium dens-canis

Erythronium dens-canis grows to tall, flowering at the beginning of spring from February to April. The flowers are solitary, pink or lilac (rarely white), with six tepals around 3 cm long; these are reflexed at the top and yellow tinted at the base, and with dark purple anthers. The leaves are marbled in glaucous green and pinkish-brown or purple, and are ovate to lanceolate; they grow in pairs. The white bulb is oblong and resembles a dog's tooth, hence the common name "dog's-tooth-violet" and the Latin specific epithet dens-canis, which translates as "dog's tooth". ==Ecology==

Erythronium dens-canis is found in damp, sunny or lightly shaded settings such as meadows and open woodland, mainly growing at altitudes of 500–2,000 m. ==Taxonomy==

Numerous names have been coined at varietal rank for plants once considered to be included within Erythronium dens-canis. None of the European varieties is now considered to merit recognition but some of the Asian species are now regarded as distinct species: • Erythronium dens-canis var. japonicum, now called Erythronium japonicum • Erythronium dens-canis var. parviflorum, now called Erythronium sibiricum • Erythronium dens-canis var. sibiricum, now called Erythronium sibiricum ==Uses==

It is grown as a garden plant for its attractive flowers. It was first introduced to Britain in 1596, with naturalised plants first noted in 1965.--> Its leaves may be consumed raw in salad, or boiled as a leaf vegetable. The bulb is also the source of a starch used in making vermicelli. ==References==