Common Name: Dimpled Trout Lily

USDA and ITIS both list two subspecies.
subsp. monostolum: stolons absent: which is found mainly in the higher elevations of the southern Appalachian Mt.
subsp. umbilicatum: stolons present (1/bulb): more common, found mainly in the Piedmont areas of the SE

Very similar to the common E. americanum whose habitats overlap. The primary difference is E. umbilicatum's seed capsule (which is dimpled) rest on or near the ground while E. americanum's seed capsule (which is rounded) is erect. Called Trout Lily for the leaves whose mottling looks like a Brook Trout. Dog-toothed Violet because the bulb is the shape of a dog's tooth. Slow to mature, spreads more from runners than seeds. Sterile for first five to seven years during which it only sends up a single leaf. After maturity, two leaves and a single stem which is initially prostate before becoming erect with a nodding flower with two basic colorings. Six tightly curved back (recurved) yellow petals, with some purplish-red stripe markings. Alternating, bent back (recurved) petals that are mostly purplish-red on top with with straight out (reflexed) petals with several purplish-red stripes along the mid-rib.

central SC
TRAILS: Wine Creek; Stevens Creek Preserve
HABITAT: bottomland Piedmont, oak-hickory-pine forest.
ELEVATION: 75m (245 ft.)
BLOOM TIME: 26-MAR; 10-FEB; 07-FEB