# Glacier Lily (*Erythronium grandiflorum*) The Glacier Lily is a bright yellow flower that blooms in the spring. It grows in cool, mountainous areas and is a favorite for butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Glacier Lily](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erythronium_grandiflorum_5077.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erythronium_grandiflorum_5077.JPG) ## Appearance The Glacier Lily has vibrant yellow, nodding flowers with gracefully recurved petals, often appearing in clusters. Its lance-shaped leaves are typically green, sometimes mottled with brownish-purple, making it stand out against the melting snow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Liliaceae - **Genus:** Erythronium ## Interesting facts - Each seed has a tasty treat for ants, convincing them to carry it far away! - Glacier Lily flowers actually tilt their heads to follow the sun's path all day long! - Its leaves and flowers burst forth so quickly, they can melt tunnels through fresh snow! - The underground bulb, sometimes called a "dogtooth," stores energy for years! ## Special abilities - **Snow Sprint:** Glacier Lily can burst into bloom immediately after snowmelt, thanks to energy stored in its bulb, letting it grab sunlight before trees leaf out. - **Ant Allies:** Glacier Lily has tiny fatty attachments on its seeds that ants love, prompting them to carry and disperse the seeds to new spots. - **Sun Seeker:** Glacier Lily's flowers track the sun across the sky during the day, maximizing warmth and pollination opportunities. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eats:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — eats elaiosomes, disperses seeds - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — digs up and consumes bulbs - **Eats:** [Yellow-bellied Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — grazes on leaves and bulbs - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on the plant's foliage ## Traits - [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers in nature; they help the environment! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Glacier Lily? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Glacier Lily? 15-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Glacier Lily? 3-5 cm ### When does Glacier Lily bloom? Early spring to early summer ### Is Glacier Lily edible? Yes ### Is Glacier Lily toxic? None ### What is Glacier Lily's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Glacier Lily pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [E.C. Manning Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-c-manning-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Valhalla Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/valhalla-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-glacier-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Kelly's Camp Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kellys-camp-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Lake Fish Hatchery Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-fish-hatchery-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see Glacier Lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/glacier-lily) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Glacier Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/glacier-lily)